Three brands. Not thirty.

Every other plumber tells you they "work on all brands." We only install three: Navien, Rinnai, and Rheem. These are the brands with parts availability, proven reliability, and warranty support worth putting in your home for 20 years.

Navien · Rinnai · RheemFactory certified15-yr+ warrantiesFull parts stock
RINNAI
Japan · Since 1920

The reliability benchmark. Simpler to service than Navien, with exceptional heat exchanger longevity. The RX series is our pick for homeowners who want "set and forget" for two decades.

15yr
Warranty
0.96
Max UEF
11.0
Max GPM
RHEEM
USA · Since 1925

Best-value tankless with the strongest US parts network. The Prestige line matches Navien and Rinnai on efficiency with slightly lower upfront cost. Ideal for budget-conscious homeowners.

12yr
Warranty
0.95
Max UEF
9.5
Max GPM
Head to head

Side by side — the numbers.

When homeowners ask us "which should I pick," the honest answer is "it depends." Here's the comparison data we use at consults.

Specification
Navien
Rinnai
Rheem
Heat exchanger warranty
15 yr
15 yr
12 yr
Parts warranty
5 yr
5 yr
5 yr
Max flow rate (GPM)
11.2
11.0
9.5
Maximum UEF (efficiency)
0.96
0.96
0.95
Built-in recirculation
Yes (NPE-A2)
Add-on
Add-on
Wi-Fi smart controls
Native
Native
Native
DMV parts availability
Excellent
Excellent
Best
Heat exchanger material
Stainless
Copper
Stainless
Our typical starting price
$3,895
$3,895
$3,595
Our install frequency
55%
35%
10%
Our recommendations

Which brand is right for your home?

We don't play favorites — we pick based on your specific situation. Here's how we think about the match.

Pick Navien if…

You want everything integrated.

4+ bathrooms, want instant hot water at every tap, like best-in-class Wi-Fi diagnostics, and don't want to pay extra for recirculation. The NPE-240A2 is our most-installed unit in Potomac and Bethesda.

Pick Rinnai if…

You prize long-term simplicity.

You want the simplest unit to service, you plan to be in your home 15+ years, and you don't mind paying for recirculation separately. The RX160iN is our most-specified unit in Gaithersburg and Germantown.

Pick Rheem if…

Budget is the primary driver.

2-3 bathrooms, single-story home, just need reliable hot water without premium features. The Prestige RTGH series saves $300-500 vs. comparable Navien/Rinnai models with only modest tradeoffs.

Not sure which brand fits?

Book a free consult — we'll walk through your home, measure gas pressure, assess your usage patterns, and recommend the right brand and model with zero upsell pressure.

3
Approved brands