Product News

Rinnai’s state-of-the-art water heating advancements move residential and commercial industries forward  Rinnai America Corporation — manufacturer of the number-one-selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in North America — announced its full line-up of new and noteworthy product innovations slated for launch in 2024, as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary in the North American market. The new product offerings were designed to meet unmet market needs Read more

Rinnai’s state-of-the-art water heating advancements move residential and commercial industries forward 

Rinnai America Corporation — manufacturer of the number-one-selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in North America — announced its full line-up of new and noteworthy product innovations slated for launch in 2024, as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary in the North American market. The new product offerings were designed to meet unmet market needs, deliver industry-leading efficiency, help PROs simplify installation, decrease setup time, improve serviceability, streamline maintenance, and provide more flexible install options.

“It is at the forefront of Rinnai’s belief to listen and learn from our customers’ wants and needs to propel technology innovations,” said Frank Windsor, President, Rinnai America Corporation. “By doing this, we lead the charge in delivering game-changing products that drive our customers’ businesses and continue to deliver on our brand promise of ‘Creating a healthier way of living™’.”

The PRO is at the center of every Rinnai product design, delivering water heating solutions Built for the PRO, by the PRO™. The following details the latest products and capabilities to make the PRO’s job even easier.

SENSEI RX

SENSEI® RX featuring Smart-Circ™ Intelligent Recirculation™ is easier than ever to sell, install, and service with new, advanced capabilities. SENSEI RX series offers natural gas, propane gas, and indoor and outdoor capability all in one model, resulting in a 4:1 SKU reduction.

  1. Smart Connect™: An industry first where the PRO can connect their smartphone or tablet to the SENSEI RX Series via Bluetooth®, decreasing set-up time and improving serviceability.
  2. Smart Sense™: Rinnai’s proprietary adaptive gas valve technology adjusts to either natural gas or liquid propane gas for optimal combustion and flexible installation — no conversion kit is required.
  3. Versa Vent™: An outdoor vent cap easily adapts to any SENSEI RX Series model for outdoor installations providing the ultimate in installation flexibility (sold separately).
  4. Quick Flush™: Provides a more efficient flushing procedure to make periodic preventive maintenance a simple task to perform.
  5. Industry-Leading Efficiency: With up to 0.98 Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), SENSEI RX is the industry leader.

REHP Series™ Electric Heat Pump Water Heater is one of the most sustainable water heating solutions available. Meeting the highest efficiency standards with up to 4.0 UEF. The REHP Series qualifies for many rebates.

  1. Zero Emissions: Delivers consistent hot water by extracting heat from the surrounding air and converting it to hot water while producing zero emissions.
  2. First to Market in the US: The micro channel heat exchanger condenser with the integrated heat pump water heater is designed to optimize heat transfer and enhance overall energy savings for the end user.
  3. Simple, Flexible Install: Designed to install as easily as an electric water heater, the REHP is duct-ready to allow for indoor installation and requires zero clearance.
  4. Superior whisper-quiet operation. 

REHP Electric Heat Pump

RCB SERIES™ Commercial Wall-Hung Boiler is a compact building heat source that delivers reliable, energy-saving performance with ground-breaking features that outperform other boilers.

  1. Commercial Product Portfolio: Rinnai has expanded into the commercial market boiler segment with both wall-mount and floor-mount condensing boilers, providing commercial heating products up to 1 million Btu/h.
  2. Integrated Cascade Connection: Combine up to 8 boilers on one system with integrated cascade logic that distributes runtimes equally for optimal application diversity.
  3. Energy-Saving Efficiency: At 97% thermal efficiency.

I-SERIES Plus™ Wall-Hung Condensing Gas Boiler is a NEW I-SERIES Plus line of solo and combi condensing gas boilers that offers unmatched value and performance with an expanded product line that features Smart Sense adaptive gas valve technology. Now with the touch of a button on a unit controller or smartphone, fuel type can be selected — conversion kits are no longer required.

  1. Smart connect™: Bluetooth-enabled setup on the Rinnai Central® App for parameter settings and speedy unit configuration.
  2. Simultaneous Delivery: Rinnai’s proportional valve allows simultaneous delivery of heat and domestic hot water for maximum comfort.
  3. Excellent Efficiency: With up to 96% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).
  4. Flexible Install: I-SERIES Plus has the capability for cascading, common venting and longer vent lengths, giving PROs more options during the installation.

Rinnai Central™ App provides PROs the ultimate water heating management experience with quick access to key tools and controls for Rinnai units, including the new I-SERIES Plus and SENSEI RX.

  1. Faster Install Times: The app delivers quick, simplified tankless water heater set-up and registration through the Quick Set-Up screen for speedy configuration. This significantly reduces installation time.
  2. Pro-Files™: Gain instant access to product information, training resources, and set-up procedures through PRO-files. With this new feature, PROs can pre-load and save all parameter settings in the app for future installs.

Expanding its tankless water heater offering, A. O. Smith offers customers unparalleled installation flexibility A. O. Smith, a leader in water heating and water treatment solutions, announces the launch of its Adapt™ Premium Condensing Gas Tankless Water Heaters with X3® Scale Prevention Technology. With new premium features, including an integrated recirculation pump and patented heat Read more

Expanding its tankless water heater offering, A. O. Smith offers customers unparalleled installation flexibility

A. O. Smith, a leader in water heating and water treatment solutions, announces the launch of its Adapt™ Premium Condensing Gas Tankless Water Heaters with X3® Scale Prevention Technology. With new premium features, including an integrated recirculation pump and patented heat exchanger; enhanced installation flexibility and highly efficient performance, Adapt™ tankless meets the needs of busy contractors and homeowners alike.

Building on A. O. Smith’s legacy of innovation, this unit is the first tankless water heater designed and manufactured entirely by A. O. Smith. To enhance installation flexibility, the Adapt line offers two- and three-inch dual pipe venting, ½- and ¾-inch gas line options and universal indoor/outdoor installation.  A. O. Smith designed the units so they can be converted from natural gas to liquid propane in the field with an included kit. All of these features work together to provide plumbing professionals with unparalleled installation flexibility when working in the field. Plumbers now have a unit that conforms on the spot to fit their exact needs, no matter the install location, fuel type or existing venting.

“Innovation is at the heart of everything A. O. Smith does and the Adapt series is no different. When designing and manufacturing this product, flexibility was our top priority. We’re providing contractors with the ultimate hot water toolkit,” said Isaac Wilson, A. O. Smith tankless senior product manager. “We understand that contractors are not just in the field; they are also on the clock. With the Adapt line, contractors can meet a homeowner’s needs without having to go back to their wholesaler to get a different unit or without having to carry additional inventory in their truck— saving them both time and money.”

The Adapt tankless water heaters also include several high-end features that are frequently requested by homeowners, such as Wi-Fi capability for remote monitoring and peace of mind and an integrated recirculation pump that provides instant hot water and eliminates the time homeowners typically spend waiting at their fixture for the water to heat up.

Available in 160,000-; 180,000-, and 199,000-BTU/hr units, the Adapt line of water heaters fits a variety of needs. Plus, the unit is equipped with A. O. Smith’s patented X3® Scale Prevention Technology which inhibits scale build-up and corrosion to extend the life of the unit up to three times longer. With zero lifetime descaling maintenance, the Adapt tankless water heater meets the needs of busy installers and homeowners.  Units also qualify for numerous state and local rebates and are ENERGY STAR® certified.

To learn more about the Adapt Tankless Water Heater line and A. O. Smith’s full suite of offerings, visit www.hotwater.com.

New CFR Boiler Simplifies Setup, Optimizes System Efficiency and Operation, and is Cost-efficient Solution to Meet Emerging Regulation AERCO, a Watts brand, introduces the CFR boiler, the world’s first stainless steel condensing Category I boiler that features up to 87.6% thermal efficiency. Offering the highest efficiency in a Category I boiler, as well as a compact Read more

New CFR Boiler Simplifies Setup, Optimizes System Efficiency and Operation, and is Cost-efficient Solution to Meet Emerging Regulation

AERCO, a Watts brand, introduces the CFR boiler, the world’s first stainless steel condensing Category I boiler that features up to 87.6% thermal efficiency. Offering the highest efficiency in a Category I boiler, as well as a compact footprint and AERCO’s  advanced Edge® Controller to simplify setup and optimize system efficiency and operation, CFR enables building owners and facility managers to cost-effectively upgrade their boiler plant and maximize performance without replacing existing Cat I/Type B venting.

Building on its 75 years of industry leadership and engineering, AERCO designed the CFR to be a cost-effective approach to replace a non-condensing boiler plant with a condensing model by eliminating the need to update piping and venting typically required for condensing operation. Available in 1500 MBH and 3000 MBH models, CFR helps building owners cost-effectively and confidently comply with local and national regulations requiring the installation of boilers with greater energy efficiency.

Ideal for Retrofit Projects

CFR is an ideal hydronic heating solution for the retrofit commercial market, as it delivers energy savings, reliable heat, and flexible, cost-saving installation in a compact footprint. Its advanced design and technology maintain dry flue gas while exceeding efficiency standards. The boiler achieves best-in-class efficiency while safely reusing existing Category I/Type B venting, making it an economical solution. An industry-unique warranty against condensate corrosion provides added peace of mind and improves the lifetime value of the boiler.

Further optimizing the CFR boiler for retrofit projects is the Edge Controller. The revolutionary technology optimizes system efficiency and operation as well as easily integrates the CFR boiler with a facility-wide Energy Management or Building Automation System (BAS).

Designed to easily connect with AERCO’s SmartPlate® EV indirect water heater, the CFR boiler can also be part of a smart, powerful combination plant to promote further system-wide energy efficiency in a cost-effective manner.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the CFR boiler because it provides building owners and facility managers with a reliable, cost-effective replacement to their current Category I boiler. CFR is a best-in-class retrofit solution because of its unmatched energy efficiency. It also significantly reduces cost of ownership due to its installation flexibility, outstanding warranty, reliable performance, and ease of maintenance,” said Christian Zapata, Product Manager, Hydronic Solutions, AERCO.

To learn more about the new CFR boilers, please visit www.aerco.com/cfr

Danfoss, a leading global supplier of technologies for HVAC/R, will exhibit their broad portfolio of solutions to help their customers reach decarbonization goals at the annual AHR Expo, January 21-23, the premier annual event for the HVAC/R industry. With an expected 50,000 attendees and 1,600 exhibitors, the event provides an invaluable opportunity to showcase the company’s technologies Read more

Danfoss, a leading global supplier of technologies for HVAC/R, will exhibit their broad portfolio of solutions to help their customers reach decarbonization goals at the annual AHR Expo, January 21-23, the premier annual event for the HVAC/R industry. With an expected 50,000 attendees and 1,600 exhibitors, the event provides an invaluable opportunity to showcase the company’s technologies that enable customers to build energy-efficient heat pumps, data centers, rooftop units, Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS), chillers and food retail refrigeration systems. Reflecting the growing push toward decarbonization, Danfoss HVAC/R solutions offer robust and energy-efficient performance to end users looking to reduce carbon emissions along with their energy and maintenance expenses.

On display will be the newest technologies, including the BOCK 6-cylinder CO2 compressor, its accompanying CO2 condensing unit, Turbocor compressors, the iC2 Micro family of drives and the EC+ technology for HVAC drives. Booth visitors will be able to see demonstrations of Alsmart and Alsense, Danfoss’ automation solutions for building HVAC systems and food retail, respectively. A feature this year will be a Lego-sized model of a Smart Store, utilizing the latest energy-efficient and low-carbon food retail solutions. Visitors to the booth will have the opportunity to enter to win a set of Legos by snapping a selfie next to the Smart Store display, posting the photo on LinkedIn and tagging the Danfoss North America page.

Also on display will be the new DSG compressor, winner of the Expo’s Innovation Award in the Cooling category. The DSG is specifically designed for low pressure, low GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants and provides chiller systems with a wide range of compressor capacities to support unit design requirements. It showcases Danfoss expertise in helping its customers make the transition to environmentally friendly refrigerants as HFC phasedown continues. As an award category winner, the DSG compressor is a finalist for Product of the Year, which will be announced at the Expo.

“Danfoss innovation in decarbonization and energy efficiency will be on full display at the Expo,” said Rick Sporrer, president of Danfoss North America. “With our broad portfolio of solutions, we have the expertise needed to become our customers’ preferred decarbonization partner. We are looking forward to highlighting our latest solutions and sharing our insights with the industry.”

Aidoo Pro integration with Nest thermostats ushers in a new era of Inverter/VRF HVAC control and interoperability.  Airzone Control, provider of HVAC solutions for zoning, automation and smart control, announces a revolutionary new integration with the full portfolio of Nest™ thermostats. The integration between the Airzone Aidoo Pro and Nest smart thermostats (Nest Thermostat™ and Nest Read more

Aidoo Pro integration with Nest thermostats ushers in a new era of Inverter/VRF HVAC control and interoperability. 

Airzone Control, provider of HVAC solutions for zoning, automation and smart control, announces a revolutionary new integration with the full portfolio of Nest™ thermostats. The integration between the Airzone Aidoo Pro and Nest smart thermostats (Nest Thermostat™ and Nest Learning Thermostat™) enables seamless bi-directional communication between the Inverter/VRF and mini split HVAC units that are soaring in popularity.

Two Expanding Categories, One Growing Problem

The Inverter/VRF solutions market is expected to reach $31.9 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 12.7 % between 2021 and 2025. The global smart thermostat market is expanding in parallel and expected to triple by 2028 as more users gravitate towards innovative solutions that provide control over a critical component of indoor spaces: heating and cooling. While these are two of the fastest-growing categories in the HVAC industry, there is a costly roadblock.

The core problem stems from these two technologies developing and evolving in insolated environments. These systems fail to communicate complex instructions effectively due to inadequate two-way communication. Without a solution in between, Inverter/VRF and mini split solutions deployed with a smart thermostat are incompatible. The resulting communication breakdown between the two forces the HVAC system to revert back to single-speed operations, undermining the full potential and sophisticated features of the system.

Simplified, smart thermostats and HVAC unit speak different languages. Since Inverter/VRF and mini split HVAC systems are traditionally adjusted by means of their own communication protocol, and the output for the smart thermostat is a dry contact closure, the full picture is never effectively communicated back to the heating/cooling system and critical information is missing. Within this scenario, the smart thermostat is unable to provide information about how hard the system should be working or the deviation from the desired set point temperature. As a result, the system cannot modulate output to precisely match the temperature needs of an environment, and the air handling unit (AHU) becomes forced to operate at maximum capacity, creating inefficiency and discomfort.

The Solution Backed By Expertise

The Airzone Aidoo Pro is a simple-to-install system add-on that sits between the HVAC system and the Nest smart thermostat and serves as a conduit between the world of HVAC and IoT to preserve Inverter/VRF features, benefits, and functionality while meeting user demand for smart control.

Airzone’s exclusive library of manufacturer-certified HVAC protocols enables full bi-directional communication between the Aidoo Pro, the HVAC solution, and the Nest Thermostat or Nest Learning Thermostat. The Aidoo Pro receives smart thermostat data, interprets it, and then sends the appropriate commands to the Inverter/VRF or mini split unit via system specific, manufacturer-certified protocols. The Inverter/VRF solution continues to function at a variable rate, preserving the superior comfort and efficiency of the system.

Airzone has spent decades cultivating privileged working relationships with the industry’s leading HVAC Inverter/VRF and mini-split manufacturers. The Aidoo Pro has manufacturer-certified HVAC protocols from all leading brands, including Daikin, Fujitsu, Hitachi, LG, Mitsubishi Electric, and Panasonic. Now, with a dedicated integration with Nest, the industry’s most popular smart thermostat solutions can be connected to and properly control Inverter/VRF and mini split HVAC systems using the Aidoo Pro.

“Our integration with the Nest smart thermostats through Aidoo Pro represents an unprecedented leap forward for our industry,” said Antonio Mediato, founder, and CEO of Airzone. “This brings together two of the industry’s fastest growing sectors in a way that was previously thought impossible. With Nest as our valued partner, together we are setting a new standard for the industry and redefining what is possible in the world of HVAC and IoT.”

Both Airzone and Google Nest will be at the upcoming AHR Expo taking place in Chicago January 22-24, 2024. For the opportunity to learn more about the Aidoo Pro/Nest integration in person, be sure to visit Airzone at AHR Expo 2024 at booth S8659 and the Google Nest Pro team at booth N1549.

To learn more about Airzone, visit https://www.airzonecontrol.com/na/en/.

Google, Nest, Nest Thermostat, Nest Learning Thermostat, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC.