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Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense Review

5.4Fair · out of 10Not in our top-5 rankings

Written from the listing and 34 buyer reviews, not from our own use · How we rate

The Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense packs a 9 GPM maximum flow, condensing efficiency and built-in recirculation into one indoor gas tankless heater. It suits a busy house where two showers and the dishwasher overlap, and its sibling listing, the Rinnai RX160iN Condensing Smart Sense, holds #3 in our high-efficiency condensing tankless water heater ranking.

Variants of this model

These are sold as variants of one listing family. Each variant has its own page.

Price$1,685.60Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
Compare side by side ↗
Specifications
BrandRinnai
CategoryGas tankless water heaters
FuelNatural gas
Stated mounting locationIndoor
Stated maximum flow9 GPM
Condensing designStated in the listing title
Stated efficiency0.97 UEF
Built-in recirculationStated in the listing
Wi-FiWith an optional module
Stated warranty15 years on the heat exchanger
Buyer reviews34 · 4.4/5
ASINB0CNQFMJGL

Full listing title: Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense Tankless Water Heater

Listing evidence
FuelRXP160iN Full listing title (Rinnai model suffix: N = natural gas, P = propane)
Stated mounting locationRXP160iN Full listing title (Rinnai model suffix: i = indoor, e = exterior)
Stated maximum flowup to 9 GPM Listing text
Condensing designCondensing Full listing title
Updated October 2026
Exact listing, ASIN B0CNQFMJGL
Rating from a published formula

Compared with its closest rivals

Two gas tankless heaters on natural gas too, with about the same flow, closest to it on our rating, each with a dated price.

Compare side by side ↗

Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense

Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense

5.4Fair · out of 10$1,685.60 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
  • Stated: 9 GPM
  • 34 buyer reviews
  • Gas tankless water heaters
This product ↑
Rheem RTGH 9.0 GPM Natural Gas Indoor

Rheem RTGH 9.0 GPM Natural Gas Indoor

5.5Fair · out of 10$1,219.99 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed
  • Stated: 9 GPM · 180,000 BTU/h
  • 30 buyer reviews
  • Gas tankless water heaters
See the review ↗

Up to 9 GPM

That's the maximum flow the listing states, and headline flows are usually quoted at a mild temperature rise. Up north in winter, 42 °F water has to climb 63 °F to reach a 105 °F shower, and the flow drops with it. Ask for the flow chart and read that line. At 2 GPM a shower (our calculator's figure), the headline means room for three showers at once, fewer when January water comes in cold.

What it has going for it

What changes in the morning shower rush

Condensing, 0.97 UEF. A second heat exchanger pulls heat out of the exhaust before it leaves, so more of the gas you pay for ends up in the water. The exhaust runs cool enough for plastic vent pipe, and the condensate needs a drain.

Built-in recirculation. It can keep hot water moving in the pipes, so the far bathroom gets warm in seconds instead of after a gallon down the drain. Check whether your house has a return line or needs a crossover valve.

One shower at a time, or two?

Two at once: up to 9 GPM, and our calculator counts a shower at 2 GPM, so that's two showers and a tap on paper. The maker's flow chart at a 63 °F rise tells you how much of that is left in January.

One at a time: then it's more heater than you need, with the gas line and the vent to match. A smaller unit may do the job for less.

Great for you if…

  • Two showers and the dishwasher run at the same time in your house
  • You care about the gas bill as much as the hot water
  • The far bathroom takes ages to run hot

Skip it if…

  • You want a tight temperature hold: the listing claims no ±1 °F control
  • You want a long review record: only 34 buyer reviews so far

Gas, venting and what's in the box

What the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense listing names:

  • Up to 9 GPM
  • Natural gas
  • Indoor mounting
  • Condensing, 0.97 UEF
  • Built-in recirculation
  • Wi-Fi with an add-on module

Warranty & support: 15-year warranty on the heat exchanger, as stated in the listing.

That is the maker's promise, not ours. Keep the invoice, register the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense if the maker asks, and read the install conditions: many tankless warranties need a licensed install and regular flushing.

Read the installation manual for the vent, the gas line size and the clearances before you order; it overrides anything above.

Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense, view 3

Price and cost per GPM of stated flow

$1,685.60 Price on Sep 30, 2026 · may have changed

At the price on Sep 30, 2026, each GPM of stated maximum flow works out at about $187.29 (price ÷ stated GPM, our arithmetic). That puts it in the pricier third of the 45 indoor gas tankless heaters we have a price and a stated flow for.

The online price is the heater alone. Venting, a bigger gas line where needed and the installer's day are a separate bill, often as big as this one.

The button opens the exact listing (ASIN B0CNQFMJGL), where today's price, stock and seller apply. Sizes and variants of the same family often sit at different prices.

Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense, view 4

A better fit for your house?

No easy route for a vent pipe? The A. O. Smith 10 GPM Natural Gas Outdoor (8.0/10) mounts on an outside wall, per its listing.

On propane, not natural gas? The Rheem RTGH 9.5 GPM Propane Indoor (7.8/10) runs on propane.

Only one bathroom? The ThermoMate CZ422LP Propane Indoor (7.8/10) states up to 5 GPM.

Our take

The verdict

What we'd buy the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense for is a 9 GPM maximum flow, with condensing efficiency as a bonus. Only 34 buyers have rated it so far (4.4/5), so treat the score as an early read. The catch with the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense: no stated temperature hold, while most picks here claim ±1 °F. We'd pick it if two showers and the dishwasher run at the same time in your house; otherwise, put it next to the Rheem RTGH 9.0 GPM Natural Gas Indoor first.

Living with it

Install day

Old tank out, unit on the wall, vent through the wall or the roof. a licensed pro handles it, and often a permit.

The first shower

Hot water arrives after the cold already in the pipes, then stays. A trickle from a bathroom tap may not light the burner; open it a bit more.

The first winter

January water comes in colder, so the same unit gives fewer GPM. Stagger the showers if you sized it tight.

Once a year

Flush the heat exchanger with a pump and a descaler (the service valves make it an hour's job), check the condensate drain and the neutralizer, and clean the inlet filter. Our flushing and descaling guide has the checklist.

What buyers say

Buyers give it 4.4/5, a strong record, above our ranked picks' 4.3 average. Only 34 reviews so far, and our formula damps averages built on fewer than 50.

The numbers
Buyer rating
4.4/5
Reviews
34
Ranked picks' average
4.3/5

The one thing we'd check first

Before the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense ships, check your winter flow: 9 GPM is a best case, so run your January numbers in our calculator first.

Before you buy

Your winter flow

Count the fixtures that run together on a busy morning (our calculator uses 2 GPM a shower, 1.5 for the kitchen), then compare with the maker's chart. Our sizing guide shows how.

Vent and gas line

A licensed plumber or gas fitter confirms the vent route, the combustion air and a gas line that can deliver its full input. Get that quote before you order; our installation guide lists what they will ask.

The condensate

A condensing unit drips acidic water that needs a drain, often through a neutralizer. Our condensing guide explains the extra parts.

Flushing

Hard water scales the heat exchanger. Service valves on the water lines turn the yearly flush into an hour with a bucket and a pump; our flushing and descaling guide shows the routine.

How it compares

How the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense stacks up against the closest alternative, the Rheem RTGH 9.0 GPM Natural Gas Indoor.

CriterionRinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart SenseRheem RTGH 9.0 GPM Natural Gas Indoor
Our rating5.4/105.5/10
Gas inputNot stated180,000 BTU/h
EfficiencyCondensing, 0.97 UEFCondensing
Temperature holdNot stated±1 °F stated
Buyer reviews34 · 4.4/530 · 4.2/5

Pick the Rheem RTGH 9.0 GPM Natural Gas Indoor if you want our higher-rated option (5.5/10), with a bigger burner (180,000 BTU/h) and a stated ±1 °F hold; stay with the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense for a condensing design and a higher buyer rating (4.4/5).

The score in detail

How we rated it

Our score: 5.4/10

Buyer rating (45%)

26.9 / 45

4.4/5 average, confidence-damped (34 reviews < 50)

Review volume (35%)

14.6 / 35

34 buyer reviews

Documented specifications (20%)

12.4 / 20

62/100 listing documentation score

Our rating is an evidence index on a 0–10 scale. It is not a buyer star rating, and we have not used the product ourselves.

  • Buyer rating (45%): the captured average shown on this variant's own listing page (not shared with the other Rinnai variants), damped when there are fewer than 50 reviews.
  • Review volume (35%): more reviews mean more reliable evidence, on a logarithmic scale up to 5,000 reviews.
  • Documented specifications (20%): how completely the exact listing documents the attributes that matter.

Our editors then look at how it compares with the other heaters we rate. A commission is never an input to the rating. Read the full methodology.

Read the methodology →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense any good?

We rate it 5.4/10 (fair). It is based on 34 buyer reviews averaging 4.4/5 and the specifications stated in the listing.

How much hot water can the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense deliver?

The listing states a maximum flow of 9 GPM. The headline flow is a mild-weather number: with cold winter water coming in, the same unit gives you less. Read the maker's flow chart at your winter rise, or let our flow-rate calculator do the sums.

Can the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense be installed indoors?

Yes, the listing says indoor mounting. That means a vent route to the outside, combustion air and a gas line sized for the unit, all as the maker and your local code require. A licensed plumber or gas fitter sorts that out.

What do you get with the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense?

Its listing states up to 9 GPM, a condensing design rated 0.97 UEF, a built-in recirculation pump and a 15-year heat exchanger warranty. These are the seller's figures, not our measurements: how steady the temperature is in your shower and how it copes with your winter water can't be read from a listing.

What should I check before ordering the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense?

Your winter flow: count the fixtures that run together on a busy morning (our calculator uses 2 GPM a shower, 1.5 for the kitchen), then compare with the maker's chart. Our sizing guide shows how. Vent and gas line: a licensed plumber or gas fitter confirms the vent route, the combustion air and a gas line that can deliver its full input. Get that quote before you order; our installation guide lists what they will ask. The condensate: a condensing unit drips acidic water that needs a drain, often through a neutralizer. Our condensing guide explains the extra parts. Flushing: hard water scales the heat exchanger. Service valves on the water lines turn the yearly flush into an hour with a bucket and a pump; our flushing and descaling guide shows the routine.

Where can I buy the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense?

We link to the exact listing on Amazon, where today's price, stock and seller apply. It is an affiliate link, and it has no effect on the rating.

Have you used the Rinnai RXP160iN Condensing Smart Sense yourselves?

No, we haven't used it ourselves. Everything on this page comes from its listing and 34 buyer reviews, read line by line and weighed with our published formula.