Do these Rheem tankless heaters always need a condensate drain here? Guessing yes.
Did you do any research on the internet using the model #?
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Rheem makes a non-condensing unit. You make want to check for that.
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Not yet, i posted from on site and figured I’d do that eventually without a clear answer. 
Brain doesn’t work too good after hiking around in 100* heat all day! Forever indebted to you fine folks!
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No, not always, it depends on how the vent is piped, this is normally described in the installation manual. Usually, if the vent is long enough to condense the exhaust vapors it will need the drain.
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Are these exhaust terminals not supposed to be painted, or was it just applied when it was too hot out?
This is a very short vent run and it is graded in a downward position. Rheem requires a condensate drain when the flue pipe is ran in an upward position.
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Just had one of these installed, here is the manufacturer’s instructions…
B. VENT CONDENSATE TRAP -%" Inner Diameter High Temperature
This venting system is equipped with a built-in condensate trap. This trap is designed to catch any moisture that builds up in the exhaust vent during operation. This trap must be connected to a drain if the vent system is terminated vertically through the roof; if the horizontal vent run slopes UP to the outside; if the vent pipe is longer than 2 feet off the top of the water heater; or if the water heater is installed in a climate subject to driven rain . This trap connection is a W’ diameter tube, it requires a high temperature silicone tubing. The tubing must be run to a suitable drain and coiled to form a trap and initially filled with a cup of water. See the “Venting” section of the Use and Care Manual for details.
Looks like that one meets the intent.
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Thanks Martin… I initially thought you were saying the flue has improper slope… which I think it does technically. Would you guys call out this severity of downward slope?
Thank you Joseph, I started getting through that venting section.
Looks like a Rheem concentric horizontal termination kit. Seeing that it is forced flow, I don’t think a slight downward slope should be an issue.
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My heroes! Thank you all.
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