The Trilogy van is decked out with Rheem tankless water heater insignia and features photographs of the latest products along with the company’s catch phrase, “Relax, it’s Rheem.”

“Ron is the one who came up with the idea for the van,” says Dale Schaffer of PIR Sales, a manufacturers representative for Rheem covering all of Arizona. The marketing idea surfaced during a business meeting with Schaffer, Gillespie and Rheem sales management. Gillespie is one of PIR Sales’ biggest tankless customers and a contracted service agent for Rheem products.

Tankless champion: A plumber for 20 years, six of it running Trilogy Plumbing, Gillespie is a long-time advocate of tankless water heater technology. Trilogy handles commercial and residential applications, and Gillespie says when the company does a remodel, he always recommends converting to tankless. 

“I prefer to put in tankless heaters,” he says. “I’ve only had one person not want to put one in, and now he regrets it.” Gillespie has installed a unit in his own home and plans to upgrade to Rheem’s largest residential model, the RTG-74, which can deliver up to 7.4 gallons of hot water per minute.

About a year ago, Gillespie decided to install Rheem tankless units exclusively. “Our customers brag about how they enjoy their Rheem water heaters,” he says, noting that customer satisfaction played a big part in Trilogy’s switching from another brand. Gillespie has had no trouble making the transition, and says his installers are also happier today. “My guys just love the way they install. All around, using Rheem tankless is time-saving and money-saving, and we can offer the product at a reasonable rate.”

Customer support also played a major role in Gillespie’s decision to switch. “It’s just been like night and day between the other company and Rheem,” he says. “Rheem’s customer support has been great. It’s been a decision I’ve never had second thoughts about.”

Growth prospects for tankless: PIR Sales’ Dale Schaffer sees tremendous growth potential for tankless water heating in Arizona. “The market for this product category is building, and it will become major as time goes on.” Schaffer says that may be due in part to the fact that environmental concerns have become more important across the state in recent years. 

According to the Arizona Department of Commerce, water heating represents about 14% of the typical home utility bill, and ranks as the third-largest energy expense for homeowners. Rheem products, which utilize advanced technology for energy efficiency, represent a smart strategy for homeowners who have environmental concerns and who want to control energy costs.

Gillespie says his customers throughout the Phoenix area are responsive to energy-conservation efforts, but their interest in tankless goes beyond that.

“They see all the positive advantages,” he says, including space savings. “A lot are just excited about the tax rebate they get.”

Tankless water heaters save space; most are about the size of a medicine cabinet. To save even more space, the units can be installed outside or in the garage, freeing up utility closet space for other uses. Tankless water heaters are especially cost-effective in certain Arizona communities, Gillespie explains, because ordinances often require the installation of a steel pipe to protect tank-type heaters installed in garages. “Homeowners save money when they don’t have to pay for the bars.”

“Tankless helps us stand apart,” Gillespie concludes. He sees tankless water heaters as a “step forward” in reducing homeowners insurance rates, saving money on energy bills, increasing their livable space and, most importantly, conserving energy.

NOTE: Publication-quality photographs, including those shown in this article, can be downloaded at the following location on the web: http://www.lncmail.com/pr/rh0640-trilogy.html 

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TRILOGY PLUMBING is located at 1080 East Pecos Road, Suite 18, PMB 407 Chandler, AZ 85225; tel.: 480-855-7731.

RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, headquartered in Atlanta, GA, is a leading worldwide provider of home comfort systems including water heaters, heating and air conditioning equipment, pool and spa heaters, and boilers.