Rinnai America Corporation issued a release on July 20, 2026, through CNW, saying it is now Canada's top-selling brand of tankless water heaters. The release attributes the ranking to BRG Building Solutions' 2026 North American Heating and Cooling Markets Report, and pairs it with two operational announcements for Canada: a new warehouse and a mobile training unit based in Ontario.
The release was issued from Rinnai America's headquarters in Peachtree City, Georgia. Its parent company, Rinnai Corporation, is based in Nagoya, Japan.
The claim and its basis
The short answer: a ranking in one category, from a paid industry report, as described by the manufacturer.
The release says BRG's report ranked Rinnai first in Canada's residential gas tankless condensing water heater category. That is narrower than "all water heaters" or even "all tankless": it covers residential, gas-fired, condensing tankless units. The release does not publish unit volumes or market shares.
We have not seen the BRG report, which is sold to subscribers. TanklessNews.ca is reporting what Rinnai said, not confirming the ranking. Other manufacturers make their own leadership claims; Navien's AHR Expo 2026 release, for example, describes Navien as the top gas tankless and condensing boiler maker in the U.S. and Canada.
The Canadian announcements
The short answer: more stock in Canada and a training vehicle for the trade in Ontario.
According to the release, Rinnai has added a new Canadian warehouse to expand distribution. It also describes a dedicated Ontario-based mobile training unit aimed at plumbers, HVAC professionals, distributors and wholesalers. The release does not say where the warehouse is, when the training unit starts touring, or how installers book it.
The release quotes Daniel Zrubak, general manager of Rinnai Canada, saying that "Canadians are looking more closely at every purchase right now".
Products named
The short answer: the SENSEI RX series, its recirculation option and installer setup tools.
The release highlights the SENSEI RX series, rated up to 0.98 UEF, and models with a built-in pump and what Rinnai calls Smart-Circ intelligent recirculation, which learns usage patterns and can be scheduled. For installers, it mentions setup through the Rinnai Central app and switching between propane and natural gas without removing the cover. The same product line was the centrepiece of Rinnai's AHR Expo 2026 announcement in January, which also claimed a 4:1 SKU reduction.
The release also compares the SENSEI RX's UEF with tank heaters it says can be as low as 0.65. That comparison is Rinnai's and depends heavily on which tank models are counted.
How to read manufacturer rankings
This section is TanklessNews.ca analysis.
The short answer: check the category, the source, the year and who paid for it.
Market-position claims are common in water heating releases, and they are rarely comparable. Before repeating one, ask four questions. Which category does it cover: all water heaters, all tankless, or one sub-type such as residential gas condensing? Which report is it from, and is that report public? Which year does it describe? And is it measured by units, revenue or something else? Rinnai's release answers the first three; it doesn't publish the measure. That is normal for releases, and it is why we report the claim with attribution rather than as fact.
Analysis: what it means for installers
This section is TanklessNews.ca analysis, not part of Rinnai's release.
- Distribution matters more than rankings. For a contractor, a Canadian warehouse can mean shorter waits on units and parts, which affects how confidently you can promise install dates. Ask your distributor what changes in practice before you change your sales message.
- Training is a marketing asset. If a mobile unit visits your area and your techs attend, that is a dated, specific fact you can put on your website. "Our crew completed manufacturer training in [month, year]" is more convincing than any adjective.
- Be careful with borrowed claims. Canada's Competition Act applies to claims in your ads, not just the manufacturer's. If you say "Canada's top-selling tankless brand", attribute it and keep the link.
- Recirculation is the feature homeowners understand. The wait for hot water at a far tap is a common complaint about tankless. Explaining recirculation honestly, including that it uses some energy, is a better pitch than efficiency ratings alone.
For the efficiency numbers behind these claims, read our explainer on Canada's minimum efficiency rules for gas tankless heaters. If you want help turning manufacturer training and product changes into accurate local pages, see our local SEO service for tankless installers. We market installers; we don't sell or install equipment. Call, text or email.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly did Rinnai claim?
The release says Rinnai is Canada's top-selling tankless water heating brand, based on BRG Building Solutions' 2026 North American Heating and Cooling Markets Report, which it says ranked Rinnai first in Canada's residential gas tankless condensing water heater category.
Has TanklessNews.ca checked the BRG report?
No. The report is a paid market study and we have not seen it. We report the claim as Rinnai's, attributed to the release, and readers should treat it that way.
What else did the release announce for Canada?
A new Canadian warehouse to expand distribution, and a dedicated Ontario-based mobile training unit for plumbers, HVAC professionals, distributors and wholesalers. The release gave no location or launch date for either.
Can a contractor repeat the claim in their own ads?
Repeating a manufacturer's market-share claim makes it your claim too. If you use it, attribute it to Rinnai and the BRG report by name and year, and link the release, rather than presenting it as your own finding.