Product Spotlight

Bradford White’s Residential Large Volume Electric Water Heaters offer some BIG solutions for higher-demand households. With a large capacity up to 118 gallons, they can handle the needs of high-demand households with ease – so every member of the family has all the hot water they need.

With Bradford White quality from top to bottom, they’re built for years of efficiency and performance. They include the Hydrojet^® Total Performance System to reduce sentiment build-up… Vitraglas^® enamel lining for superior protection against tank corrosion… fully automatic controls with fast-acting surface-mount thermostat.

Click to learn more about Bradford White’s Residential Large Volume Electric Water Heaters.

Irvine, Calif. — Navien, Inc., the number one brand in high efficiency condensing tankless water heaters, has launched the brand new NPE-2 series. Navien NPE-2 series is the biggest update to condensing tankless water heaters in North America since the NPE series changed the landscape of the industry in 2012. The NPE-2 is offered in four Standard (NPE-S2) models up to 199,900 BTU/H and three Advanced (NPE-A2) models up to 199,900 BTU/H.

Advanced innovation engineered into the NPE-2 allows for new high-efficiency features and technology including a turndown ratio up to 15:1, EZNav™ advanced multi-line control with built-in intuitive software and easy-to-use Setup Wizard, increased 2” PVC venting length up to 75-feet, vent installation detector, built-in HotButton™ on-demand system controls, expanded cascade capability up to 32 units and expanded common venting capability up to 12 units.

The NPE-2 will continue to offer the features that made the NPE the number one selling condensing tankless water heater in North America, such as dual stainless steel heat exchangers, half-inch gas pipe capability up to 24 feet and ComfortFlow™ recirculation system with built-in recirculation pump and buffer tank on the NPE-A2.

Navien’s NPE-2 will continue to support popular Navien accessories for enhanced installations including NaviLink^® Wi-Fi remote control system, NaviCirc^® recirculation crossover valve, H2Air^® for combination space heating and domestic hot water system, and ReadyLink^® manifold system for simplifying multi-unit installations on walls or racks.

To learn more, visit Navieninc.com.

Providing ease, cost savings and strong performance, product offers contractors a competitive advantage 

To provide a quick and easy tank replacement solution to both contractors and end users, Rinnai America Corporation created the non-condensing Demand Duo® R-Series Commercial Hybrid Water Heating System. Its design connects easily to the existing 6” B-Vent, allowing Contractors to quickly and easily replace standard-efficiency atmospheric tanks. The end user, too, can benefit by simply upgrading to a “best of both” system, featuring part-tank and part-tankless design.

“With patented technology, the Demand Duo R-Series delivers superior, reliable performance and a longer service life,” said Dale Schmitz, Marketing Segment Manager. “Switching from traditional tanks to the consistency and efficiency of the Demand Duo R-Series is simple and benefits customers with a lower total cost of ownership.”

Sold in 80 or 119- gallon tank options, the Demand Duo R-Series eliminates the need for new vent penetrations. The pre-installed drip leg and 36” Swivel-Flex Gas Line also creates material efficiencies and reduces install time with a pre-installed electrical junction box and duplex outlet. The digital controller, which comes with the product, also allows management of building recirculation without having to purchase an additional aquastat.

“With cost advantages to the end user, as well as ease of installation, this product gives contractors a great competitive advantage,” said Schmitz. “Rinnai is going one step further and offering an aggressive promotion to encourage Rinnai PROs and installers to try the Demand Duo R-Series, earning them a $150 rebate through June 30, 2021.”

Rinnai’s R-Series originated from the Demand Duo product portfolio; the first commercial hybrid water heating product introduced by Rinnai in 2015. It was developed to compete against high-efficiency tank-type water heaters in emergency replacement situations. Due to water heating inside traditional tanks, those products are put through a higher amount of strain, and that constant heating is what ultimately causes the tank to fail, leading to costly replacements. The Demand Duo was designed to solve this problem, by putting less stress on the tank through water being heated outside the tank in the Demand Duo’s tankless unit. With this solution comes a longer product service life, a longer warranty and more economical repairs.

To continue providing solutions to end users and contractors, Rinnai expanded the product category which now includes multiple tank sizes and Btu inputs including two tankless units mounted to a 119-gallon tank, known as the Demand Duo H-Series, a condensing hybrid water heater.

“Once contractors use the Demand Duo series, they seldom go back to installing tank-type water heaters because they can offer a product that is at the same price point but offers so many more advantages,” said Schmitz. “These advantages end up benefiting both the contractor and customer, while providing reliable performance whenever hot water is needed.”

To learn more about Rinnai, visit www.rinnai.us.

There seems to be some confusion in the HVAC/R industry right now about press fittings. So RLS – manufacturer of the original RLS (Rapid Locking System) press fittings that were first sold under the ZoomLock brand name – wants to set the record straight.

While you can’t always trust what you hear, you can always trust the facts. And here are some undisputed facts about HVAC/R press fittings:

FACT: RLS is the inventor, patent holder and manufacturer of the original HVAC/R press fittings, which were introduced under the ZoomLock brand in 2015, through an exclusive agreement with Parker Hannifin Corporation’s Sporlan division. The fittings were designed and engineered – and continue to be made – in America.

FACT: The exclusive agreement ended in late 2019, and RLS stopped supplying fittings for ZoomLock in August of 2020. (See the official announcement here)

FACT: In August of 2020, Parker began selling press fittings manufactured in Europe by Conex Banninger (the Conex B MaxiPro line) under the “ZoomLock Max” name.

FACT: RLS now sells the exact same fittings, tools and jaws that were originally sold as ZoomLock under their own RLS brand name. That is why the original ZoomLock tools and jaws still work perfectly with RLS fittings – and always will.

FACT: Any rumors being circulated about RLS/ZoomLock jaws needing to be “traded in” or replaced are simply not true.

FACT: RLS fittings and jaws use a patented double circular press, with 360˚ metal-to-metal connections. ZoomLock Max/Conex B MaxiPro fittings and jaws use a hexagonal press similar to what is used in plumbing.

FACT: RLS fittings have a 6+ year proven track record of success worldwide. Conex Banninger introduced the new B MaxiPro design sometime after June of 2019.

FACT: The only difference between the original ZoomLock fittings and the current RLS fittings is the name. The product is identical – and made in the same American factory.

Want more facts? You can get them from the source by visiting rapidlockingsystem.com or emailing sales@rapidlockingsystem.com.