Rheem Boiler Review, Prices & Buying Guide

A complete Rheem boiler buying guide and brand review, including Rheem’s top models, AFUE ratings, features, model comparisons, warranty information, and more.

New boilers are an important investment for your home. They can be expensive, but the right one will keep your family warm and your home comfortable for many years while also reducing your energy bills.

Rheem is one of the most popular HVAC brands in Canada, so if you’re looking for a Rheem boiler for your home, then this guide will go over everything you need to make an informed decision about the make and model.

By the end of this review, you’ll know all about the Rheem brand, the different features they offer, pros and cons, warranty details, and the models they offer, along with the AFUE ratings they boast and what’s good about each of them.

Also Read: The Best Boilers for Canadians

An Overview of the Rheem Brand

Strong Points

We’ve already mentioned that Rheem is a popular HVAC brand in Canada, and for good reason. They make quality furnaces and boilers that they back with great warranties, and their products are designed to last.

Beyond that, they also focus on manufacturing boilers that are easy to install and maintain, and that means you could save money on labour and service costs compared to other brands.

Similarly, their units are compact, space-saving, offer flexible installation options, and are compatible with all infrastructure styles, so they’re suitable for most home sizes and styles. Moreover, their boilers come in both natural gas and propane versions, so they’re suitable for homes all over Canada, regardless of your local utilities.

For safety-conscious Canadians, Rheem boilers are packed with features that guarantee comfort and safety, including outdoor reset sensors, flame sensors, gas leak detectors, and more.

Furthermore, all the boilers are high-efficiency, have low nitrogen oxide emissions, and are ENERGY STAR® certified. 

Room for Improvement

In the last several years, lots of HVAC manufacturers have started turning their attention to developing new features and technologies that improve the performance and convenience of their heating and cooling systems. Unfortunately, most of that attention has been focused on furnaces, and very few new boiler technologies have been created.

The ones that have been developed, such as Wi-Fi connectivity for remote boiler operation, aren’t available with Rheem boilers.

Another thing about Rheem is that their boiler lineup is pretty small. They really only have two models to choose from, and then you can select the natural gas or propane version depending on your needs.

The Bottom Line

Rheem makes quality boilers that are durable, reliable, and backed by a good warranty. They have both natural gas and propane versions available, so they’re suitable no matter where you live.

All the models are high-efficiency, with 95 percent AFUE ratings, and are ENERGY STAR rated. As such, these units are eligible for most of the rebates that are available.

However, Rheem doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of selection, and the four models they have only have slight differences in the fuel sources and the size and capacity of the units. The models they do have, however, have cost-saving efficiency ratings and easy-to-install features, so you can expect to save money with a Rheem boiler. 

Rheem Average Boiler Price Range

$3,000 – $5,000+ (including installation)

Here at Furnace Prices, we know how important it is for you to be able to budget for a boiler upgrade. While we can’t give you an exact quote, we can tell you Rheem is mid-range in terms of budget.

The reason we can’t give a quote is because so many things impact the cost of a new boiler, including:

• Installation (the cost will also fluctuate based on the following factors)
• Your location
• The infrastructure and design of your home
• The boiler brand, make, and model
• Boiler type (such as conventional versus combi)
• Zone requirements
• AFUE rating

There is one way you might be able to save on your boiler purchase, and that’s through rebates. From time to time, the government, utility companies, HVAC distributors, and manufacturers offer rebates, particularly on high-efficiency boilers. Always check what deals and rebates are available before purchasing.

Rheem Boiler Options Reviewed

Rheem High-Efficiency Gas Combi Boilers

Rheem has two gas combi boiler models available, the RCBH-199DVLN and the RCBH-180DVLN. They’re very similar in terms of design, specifications, safety features, efficiency, and overall reliability and performance.

Both of these models are also combi boilers, meaning they combine the job of a boiler system and the job of a water heater in one convenient unit. The only real difference between the two models is the size and heating/hot water capacity, with the 199DVLN having a higher heating output and larger hot water capacity.

Rheem High-Efficiency Propane Combi Boilers

For each of the high-efficiency gas combi boilers Rheem makes, they also manufacture a propane-fired model. The RCBH-199DVLP is comparable to the RCBH-199DVLN, and the RCBH-180DVLP is comparable to the RCBH-180DVLN.

Aside from the fuel source, these high-efficiency propane combi boilers are identical to the high-efficiency gas models. They all have a 95 percent AFUE rating, ENERGY STAR certification, ultra-low NOx emissions, tons of safety features, the auto boost feature, and they boast lasting and efficient performance thanks to the quality design and components.

Comparison of Rheem’s Top Models

RCBH-199DVLN

The RCBH-199DVLN is one of Rheem’s two high-efficiency gas combi boiler models, so like other Rheem boilers, it provides heat for your home as well as hot water for your domestic use. Specifically, it can generate enough hot water to accommodate homes with two to 2.5 bathrooms. This boiler has an AFUE rating of 95 percent, has ultra-low nitrogen oxide emissions, and has a turndown ratio of 6.7:1, meaning it has a decent range to modulate its output and save energy. 

Like other Rheem boilers, this model has a direct electronic ignition for reliable ignition, a stainless steel heat exchanger for lasting life, and plenty of safety devices to protect your home and family. This model is also suitable for just about any home because it’s space-saving, and is compatible with just about any infrastructure, including radiant floor heating, baseboard heating, radiators, and hydronic air handlers.

Boiler Stats

AFUE: 95 percent
Boiler type: Combi
ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
Sizes available: 18,000 to 120,000 BTUs
Fuel source: Natural gas

What’s good: A reliable and safe gas combi boiler that promises reliable high-efficiency performance and ultra-low NOx emissions, and that’s suitable for homes with up to 2.5 bathrooms.

RCBH-199DVLP

The RCBH-199DVLP is essentially the same boiler as the 199DVLN with one important difference: the 199DVLP is a propane-fired boiler, so it’s good for homes that don’t have a gas hook-up installed or available. Aside from the fuel source, the two boilers are the same in terms of design, size, capacity, specifications, efficiency, performance, and safety and comfort features.

Boiler Stats

AFUE: 95 percent
Boiler type: Combi
ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
Sizes available: 18,000 to 120,000 BTUs
Fuel source: Propane

What’s good: A high-efficiency propane combi boiler that heats your home safely and comfortably, and that can generate enough hot water for a home with up to 2.5 bathrooms.

RCBH-180DVLN

Rheem’s RCBH-180DVLN is very similar to the first model, but with a smaller capacity, output, and modulation range. Like the other models, it has a 95 percent AFUE rating, but with a slightly lower turndown ratio of 5.6:1. It’s the perfect size for a home with two bathrooms, and the compact design and flexible installation options make it ideal for just about any space. It’s also compatible with hydronic baseboard heaters, radiant floor heating, radiators, and hydronic air handlers. 

It has all the same safety features as the other models, direct electronic ignition for reliable ignition, a long-lasting stainless steel heat exchanger, ultra-low NOx emissions, and an auto boost feature that ensures your home is always at the right temperature for your comfort.

Boiler Stats

AFUE: 95 percent
Boiler type: Combi
ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
Sizes available: 18,000 to 100,000 BTUs
Fuel source: Natural gas

What’s good: An ultra-low NOx gas boiler with a great efficiency rating, a great warranty, loads of safety features, a decent turndown ratio, and a large enough DHW capacity for a two-bathroom home.

RCBH-180DVLP

The RCBH-180DVLP is the same as the 180DVLN in every way with the exception of the fuel source: the 180DVLP is a high-efficiency propane combi boiler. Beyond that, it’s basically the same model, with the same stainless steel heat exchanger, warranty, turndown ratio, heating and hot water capacity, compact design, safety features, ultra-low NOx emissions, AFUE rating, and so on.

Boiler Stats

AFUE: 95 percent
Boiler type: Combi
ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
Sizes available: 18,000 to 100,000 BTUs
Fuel source: Propane

What’s good: A reliable and long-lasting propane combi boiler with a high-efficiency rating, ENERGY STAR certification, and a hot water capacity that can accommodate a home with two bathrooms.

Rheem Exclusive Features

Feature 1 – Auto Boost

The auto boost feature is a technology that comes standard with every Rheem combi boiler. This feature will boost the hydronic loop when the thermostat setting isn’t reached quickly enough to ensure your home gets to the right temperature as soon as possible.

With the auto boost feature, you never have to worry about your home getting cold because the boiler can’t keep up when the mercury drops or you turn up the heat.

Feature 2 – Safety Features

Along with dependability and quality, one of the major things Rheem focuses on is consumer safety. That’s why every one of their boilers is equipped with numerous safety features, including:

• Overheat cut off limit switch
• Flame sensor
• Exhaust thermistor
• Pressure sensor
• Gas leak detector
• Water leak detector
• Heating supply thermistor

Rheem’s Boiler Warranty

No Rheem boiler review would be complete without discussing the warranty coverage.

There are two main reasons you want to pay attention to a boiler warranty: for one, a good warranty could save you plenty of money in repair and maintenance costs. If you’re lucky, then your boiler won’t ever need repairs, but even well-made components can fail, and the warranty will protect you in that event.

And that brings us to the other reason warranties are important: they tell you how much faith the manufacturer puts in their products. A manufacturer that backs their boiler with a good warranty does so because they don’t expect any major problems during the warranty period. In other words, a 10-year warranty is similar to the manufacturer saying they expect the boiler to be reliable for at least that long.

So what do Rheem warranties look like? They’re among the best on the market, thanks in part to their industry-leading labour warranty. Rheem backs all of their boilers with the following warranties:

• A 10-year warranty for the heat exchanger
• A five-year warranty for parts
• A one-year labour warranty

RHEEM: ABOUT THE COMPANY

Like many HVAC manufacturers, Rheem has been around for quite some time. They got their start back in 1925 when two brothers from California, Donald and Richard Rheem, joined forces to design and manufacture high-quality home heating and cooling products. Since the beginning of the company, Rheem has focused on using quality components to create lasting and reliable boilers and other HVAC products.

Today, Rheem’s combi boilers are efficient, space-saving, and affordable, making them one of the most popular brands in Canada. If you’d like to find out more about Rheem’s high-efficiency natural gas boiler line up…

Fill out our online form, and one of our representatives will be happy to provide you with a free, no-obligation quote.