NORITZ BLOG

Get the latest in Noritz news and announcements.

Setting the Time and Date

Want to save on energy costs and enjoy unlimited hot water when you need it? One of Noritz’s most high-efficiency and function-rich products is the NRCP line of residential tankless water heaters.

Usually, no matter what kind of water heater you have, there is a wait for hot water as it travels through the pipes to the outlet, such as a shower head. The NRCP line of heaters, however, can couple with an external water recirculation system to bring you instant hot water.

In recirculation systems, a circulating pump that is external to the tankless water heater moves hot water through a pipe “loop” created in the plumbing system of a home or building. In addition to supply lines connecting the water heater to each outlet, a recirculation system also contains either a return line back to the heater from each hot-water outlet or from only the farthest fixture.

An added feature of the NRCP is its internal circulation pump, which regularly circulates about half a gallon of warm water inside the unit, with a temperature sensor turning the burner on or off. This prevents freezing if the unit is not in use for an extended period during the winter. It also makes the water heat up more quickly, since it’s already quite warm, allowing for an even shorter wait at the hot-water outlet.

Below, we discuss the basics of setting the date and time on your NRCP.

Setting the Date and Time:

1. Lift open the window panel located towards the bottom of the unit.
2. Press the Power button to turn on the unit.
3. Press and hold the Function button for five seconds to enter the user mode.
4. The A:GA mode will appear. You’re now able to scroll through the different options by rotating the Dial button to the right.
5. Once you reach the L:TA mode, press the Dial button to select. This area will let you change the time and date, starting with the year.
6. Rotate the Dial and press to set the correct year. You will then be able to do the same to set the month, day, hour and minute. To skip past one of the time intervals, press the Dial (Note that the NRCP unit uses military time, meaning a 24-hour time frame; e.g., 1:00 p.m. is expressed as 13:00.)
7. Once you’ve set all of the options, you should automatically return to the L:TA mode. From here, press the Function button to return to the home screen where it will indicate the time of day.

An upcoming blog will examine how you can program your NRCP to recirculate water only at certain times of the day. For more information on the NRCP, please visit https://www.noritz.com/nrcp/.

Embed Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6mFLOLroOU

Get More Space With Tankless Water Heating 

Owning a home creates a constant struggle between buying more furnishings, appliances and other amenities, yet still having enough space to live. And the longer you reside in a home, the more amenities you are bound to accumulate.

Some of these necessities will take up a lot of space, and there’s little you can do—your washer and dryer, for example. Fortunately, there are items that you only think must be space killers, but not really. That large, hulking tank water heater in your basement or garage is a prime example. Tankless water heaters, like those from Noritz, are a space-saving alternative that is also more energy-efficient and accommodating than their tank counterparts.

No Tank

Instead of heating stored water in a large tank throughout the day, regardless of demand, tankless water heaters use a powerful burner to quickly super-heat water only when you turn on a faucet, shower or an appliance. No tank means a major burden is literally lifted off your home’s floor space. Because Noritz tankless water heaters are wall-hung, it's also easier to conceal them behind a partition or inside a closet, leaving more room for your car, a washer and dryer, an indoor gym, etc.

No Bursts

No tank also means minimal threat of water leakage. With tank-type water heaters, leaks and bursts can occur after a buildup of rust, scale and mineral deposits over time, depending upon the hardness of the water in your locale. Although a tankless system is susceptible to scale buildup, you'll never have to worry about the Great Flood making an encore appearance in your home because of a water-heater burst. Depending on the unit, a small amount of water will likely remain within the tankless heater after any shutdown, but not the 30 to 50 gallons found in a tank-type unit.

Learn how to descale your tankless water heater

No Waste

Unlike a tank water heater, which regularly burns energy to heat stored water, even when there's no demand, a tankless heater activates only as needed As a result, you don't waste precious energy all those hours when no one's home. The payoff? — a great deal of savings on the water heating portion of your utility bill. Tankless water heaters also last longer than tank heaters, with lifespans of 20 years.

So remember, by choosing to go tankless, you can have more freedom and space in your life. More space for living. More space for saving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPlpYhArzOE&feature=youtu.be

Gas Manifold Replacement For Noritz Tankless Water Heaters 

Every Noritz tankless water heater has a gas manifold that controls how much gas enters the burner at any given time. The gas manifold ensures that your unit is using the correct amount of energy to heat incoming water, thereby preventing waste or underperformance.

It’s important then to ensure that the gas manifold operates properly. According to Randy Oshiro, Assistant Manager of Engineering at Noritz, the way to tell if the gas manifold needs changing is if the unit isn’t firing properly. “A malfunctioning gas manifold would bring up a combustion-related 11 or 12 error code on the unit,” he explains.

Learn about resolving the most common error codes on a tankless water heater

The following steps explain how to replace a gas manifold and adjust manifold gas pressures. These steps are meant as an educational overview for your plumbing or HVAC contractor, and Noritz recommends that you not try this yourself unless you are a licensed and trained professional.

Installing the New Manifold

1. Remove the water heater’s front cover, using a Philips screwdriver. Turn off the gas valve and unplug the unit.
2. Remove the C-clamp on the bottom right-hand corner of the unit and slide the gas pipe up, so it disconnects from the gas inlet fitting.
3. Follow the wires protruding from the manifold to the connected wire harness. Disconnect by pressing and holding the middle tab of the harness and pulling apart at the same time.
4. Remove the manifold by unscrewing the four screws. (Do not use power tools.) Once inside, separate the gas pipe entirely from the manifold.
5. Insert the gas pipe into the new manifold. Push down until it bottoms out.
6. Install the new manifold into the unit by inserting the attached gas pipe into the inlet fitting, pushing down until the washer is perfectly resting on top of the fitting. Reinstall the C-clamp and make sure it can rotate with ease.
7. Reconnect the wire harness by pushing the two ends back together until you hear a click. Reattach the manifold, using the four main screws.

Adjusting Manifold Gas Pressures

For these next steps, you will need a manometer and a gas manifold chart found here. Adjusting the pressure ensures that the proper amount of gas enters the unit.

1. Turn on the gas valve and inspect the unit for any gas leaks before closing the water valve and reconnecting the power to the unit.
2. To test the gas pressures, turn on the manometer and wait until it displays 0.00. Then take the manometer tube and attach it to the manifold testing port. Turn the water inlet valve back on and open several faucets to create enough hot-water demand for the manifold adjustment.
3. Locate the burner glass window and confirm there is a flame.
4. Remove the manometer tube from the manometer and block the end of the tube with your finger. Zero out the manometer and then reattach the tube to purge any residual air.
5. Locate the manifold pressure adjustment buttons on the circuit board. Press and hold the top and third button from the top until “S_P” pops up, meaning “special unit.” (See image on right for button meanings).
6. Use the chart to find the listed minimum and maximum pressures for the unit. Press the minimum and maximum buttons before using the up and down buttons to adjust their respective pressures.
7. Turn off the water inlet and gas valves. Remove the tube from the manifold testing port and insert a new pre-coded screw.
8. Turn the water inlet and gas valves back on and replace the unit’s front cover.

For a detailed instruction video on manifold replacement and gas pressure adjustment, please view the video below, or contact Noritz at 1-866-766-7489.

The Noritz Outbound Sales Team Can Help You Find The Right Installer 

It’s not always easy finding the right plumbing contractor to install your appliance. Some plumbers do stellar work and make sure you won’t have any flushing, washing or soaking problems, while others may not. Unfortunately, it’s often hard to know “who’s who” going in.

Obviously, you want all your plumbing jobs to be done correctly and affordably. When it comes to installing tankless water heaters, Noritz has you covered with its new outbound sales team. Designed to do all the difficult work of finding and coordinating an installer for you, the outbound sales team saves you time and hassle.

It works like this: You the homeowner contact Noritz about installing a tankless water heater. You can do this directly online through the Contact Us page, or get general information through the live chat service on www.noritz.com.

Noritz’s friendly and helpful Customer Care Department locates various installers in your area and lets you pick one. Criteria used to find the right plumber include proximity to your home, scheduling and ranking in Noritz’s points-based PROCard program, which takes a potential installer’s tankless training into account. Note that another great tool Noritz offers is the Find an Installer page on its website.

Once you pick a plumber, Noritz coordinates an installation date and that’s it! As you can see, it takes minimal effort on your part. When the installation is complete, Noritz will call you to follow up on warranty and rebate information.

The follow-up is also your opportunity to let Noritz know how the installation went. If you experienced any sort of problem, Noritz will work with you until it’s resolved. Since plumber rankings in the PROCard points program are impacted by customer satisfaction, members are encouraged to put forth their best effort on each installation job.

“Our new outbound sales team eliminates the pain points often experienced by customers when they try to coordinate a tankless installation on their own,” explains Andrew Tran, marketing supervisor at Noritz. “Let us handle the often time-consuming task of finding and coordinating the right installer for you.”

Indeed, Noritz’s new outbound sales team gives you another reason to go tankless.

Noritz Combi Unit At Work

Stanwood, Wash., resident Brian Fleming had a serious heating problem in his two-story home. The 10-year-old, split-level structure had lacked effective space heating since day one.

“The builders had not designed my forced-air heating system to handle two floors, so the downstairs portion was always cold,” explains Fleming, who used his furnace system for less than 25 cycles annually, instead relying on a gas-powered fireplace to heat his upper floor. He was therefore forced to sometimes run two to three space heaters on the lower floor for several hours just to maintain comfort levels. “I was spending a significant amount on my electricity bill to heat this space,” he recalls.

Water heating, though less of a problem, was still noticeably difficult whenever he and his family needed to run multiple fixtures simultaneously. “We had a 40-gallon tank water heater, so whenever somebody tried to shower while the laundry was running, the warm water would run out very quickly,” he says.

A Two-in-One Solution

Fortunately, Fleming, who works for Reid Pacific Company and serves as manufacturer’s representative for Noritz America, had the opportunity to beta-test the new combination boiler/tankless water heater (Combi) from Noritz, allowing him to kill two birds with one stone. The Noritz Combi CB, which meets “Energy Star Most Efficient” standards, is a year-round, whole-home solution that utilizes high-efficiency condensing technology to deliver hot water to both domestic hot water and hydronic space-heating applications. It made the forced-air furnace system and tank water heater completely unnecessary.

Whidbey Island Plumbing (Oak Harbor, Wash.) undertook the installation, situating the 90-lb. wall-hung Combi CB unit in Fleming’s garage. Radiant tubing was stapled up underneath in a serpentine fashion between stud bays. Venting the unit was accomplished through the garage wall, using concentric PVC pipe that handled both intake and exhaust.

Chasing Out the Cold

Since the installation, Fleming has observed a marked improvement in energy savings and indoor comfort. “You can actually feel the heat on everything in the room, from the table to the couch,” he notes.He has also seen a total cost reduction of around $60 on his monthly gas and electricity bills. “Not having to run those space heaters all the time saves a lot of energy,” he explains, also noting that the first floor-slab remains warm long after the Combi system cycles off after meeting the setpoint temperature. On the water heating side, Fleming and his family can now take showers and do the dishes for as long as they like, because the condensing tankless technology provides as much hot water as needed for as long as needed with an efficiency of 95 percent. “Once that tankless unit fires up, it provides endless hot water and a consistently enjoyable heating experience,” he affirms.

The combination boiler proved to be a highly workable heating solution for Fleming, who no longer needs to deal with cold spots in his room space or shower. “I see no reason to ever go back to forced air or tank water heaters,” he states.

We all want the latest and greatest in modern technology and the conveniences it provides—from that newest smartphone that recharges in less than an hour, to that wristwatch that plays video.  So, why not think the same way when it comes to tankless water heating technologies?

Tank-style water heaters are the equivalent of a car phone when you compare them to a tankless water heater from Noritz. As you probably know, conventional water heaters use a bulky storage tank to keep the water inside at a set temperature, whether it’s needed or not. Unfortunately, constantly heating and reheating water, even when it’s not being used, leads to wasted energy. That’s not much different from leaving your lights or stove on throughout the day while not in use.

The other downside—if the tank runs out of hot water, and you do need it for a shower, you have to wait…in the cold…for the water to warm up again. Brrrr.

Tankless water heaters solve all of these issues. First, the absence of a tank, in conjunction with the water heater’s wall-hung nature, means it takes up less space and makes it easier to keep the surrounding area clean. Its lighter weight means a single professional can handle the installation without the need for a helper, lowering the cost. Additionally, no tank means no flooded basement if there’s a leak.

The key benefit, however, is the constant flow of hot water that tankless provides on demand. When you turn on your tap, the water flow ignites the heater’s burner, which quickly flash-heats the water and gives you the green light to wash the dishes, do laundry or take a shower when you want to.

Even better, the hot water will continue flowing for as long as you need it, unlike when you take a shower using hot water from a tank, which can run out midway through.

Since tankless water heaters operate only when you need them, you can cut energy consumption up to 60 percent, making them environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. Add to that a 20-year lifespan and 12-year warranty, and you will realize that you cannot afford not to switch.

Not sure how to go about switching from tank to tankless? No worries. Our Noritz Homeowners site will walk you through the process of choosing the right unit and finding the right installer. It will be one of the best plumbing decisions of your life.

Check out our latest video below for more information about tankless water heaters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2h1p3DaLqo&feature=youtu.be

For many homeowners, tankless water heaters are relatively unknown. You may be used to thinking that water has to come out of that giant tank in your basement or garage. Hearing about tankless technology for the first time might, therefore, prompt a bunch of questions: Where does the water come from? How is the water heated? Thankfully, Noritz has designed the homeowner portion of its website to address precisely this.

Go to https://www.noritz.com and take advantage of the following:

• Scroll down and check out the “Why Noritz” video for basic information about how tankless water heaters work and their many cost-saving and comfort benefits. It’s the perfect introduction if you know nothing about tankless water heaters. The scrolling banners at the top of the homepage provide additional information on the newest products from Noritz, like the Combi boiler.

• If you like what you see in the video and want to learn about installing a tankless water heater follow our “Path to a Tankless Water heater.” In this section, simply type your zip code in three different search boxes to find (1) The right tankless model for your home’s hot water needs; (2) A local tankless installer who could give you a quote; (3) Information about local energy rebates you can qualify for if you install a tankless water heater.

• For those who aren’t quite ready to make the decision to go tankless, more information can be found in our Learn Section. The link is on the top menu and leads to a page with detailed information about tankless operation, the benefits of tankless over tank-style heaters and energy savings possible by making the switch.

• Already have a tankless water heater but need service or a specific question answered? Visit our Support Page by clicking the wrench icon on the homepage labeled “Support.” Although some of this information is for professionals, you can search for any answers you may need. Most convenient is our Need Service? feature, which allows you to search for a local service professional who will perform routine maintenance on your water heater, such as descaling and error code resolutions.

The Noritz website is not limited to the above aspects, but they represent some of the most helpful features we offer. We are constantly seeking new ways to make our website more applicable and user-friendly for homeowners, so stay tuned—there’s more to come.

The New Noritz  Combination Boiler Exceeds All Your Hot Water and Hydronic Space Heating Needs

Consumers can now kill the two birds of domestic hot water and space heating with one stone. The Noritz Combination Boiler  is a year-round, whole-home solution that delivers hot water to both plumbing and hydronic heating applications.

This means having one unit doing the work of two — and more resourcefully at that. The unit performs at a 95 percent AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency); that is, 95 percent of the fuel consumed goes to heating the water to the preset temperature, as opposed to being lost through the flue. This fuel-saving performance meets “Energy Star Most Efficient” standards, meaning that, with the Combination Boiler, you will be able to qualify for various state energy rebates around the country and offset the initial cost.

On the space heating side, the Combination Boiler accommodates a host of applications including radiators, baseboards, low and high mass radiant heating (i.e. in-floor, snow melt, etc.) and air handlers.

Two models are available for different levels of demand:

• The CB180DV has a maximum input Btuh of 180,000 for hot water and 100,000 Btuh for space heating.
• The CB199DV has a maximum input Btuh of 199,000 for hot water and 120,000 Btuh for space heating.

Other Combination Boiler features

• Weighing only 90 pounds, the wall-hung Combination Boiler is also significantly lighter than a traditional boiler, requiring only one installer to do the job instead of two or more. Its compact size allows it to take up as much as 80 percent less space than a traditional floor-standing boiler and water heater.
• The Combination Boiler allows you to enjoy stable temperatures in your shower and other water uses. Unlike competitors, a flow control valve ensures consistent temperature for domestic hot water demand, regardless of incoming water temperature.
• The units allow different temperature settings for the domestic hot water heating and space heating applications. For domestic hot water, temperatures range from 90 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. On the space heating side, the range is 100 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Both models contain three superior-grade stainless steel heat exchangers as well as scald prevention for domestic hot water safety.
• The use of plastic venting materials — rather than the stainless steel venting required by non-condensing water heaters — substantially lowers costs by reducing installation time as well as the cost of the piping materials.
• The Combination Boiler can deliver up to 4.5 gallons per minute of domestic hot water at 77⁰ temperature rise, nearly double that of the competitors.

The compact size, ease-of-installation, high-efficiency and superior domestic hot water performance make the Noritz Combination Boiler the solution for all of your home’s heating and hot water needs.

For more information  www.noritz.com/combi

It happens to most plumbing contractors every day. You are completing an installation for a homeowner when suddenly you have a technical question about the product or need to resolve an issue. This why the Noritz Professionals Site was created. If the product being installed is a Noritz tankless water heater, you can rest assured that you will find your answers at Noritz.com.

Similarly, if you are a homebuilder and need warranty or product information on the water heating unit you plan to install in your building, the Noritz “Professionals” website is your one-stop shop for such information.

To help you navigate your way through the “Professionals” side of our website, we have developed this post that highlights several of its most useful features.

First, you need to make sure you are on the website’s Professionals side. When you type in Noritz.com, your browser will take you to the Homeowner’s side. Find the red “Professionals” button on the top-right of the page and click it. (See image on right.)

Once on the Professionals side, you will notice some of the helpful features we offer:

Technical Support: You can navigate to our Technical Support page by clicking Tech Support on either the top menu or farther down the page. Here you will find everything, from service to parts to technical literature. You can also search by model number for specific product support. Our Frequently Asked Questions page is a helpful resource as well that answers a host of queries, from error code resolutions to cleaning the inlet filter.

Training: Click on the Training icon with the wrench in the middle of the page to sign up for a variety of technical course offerings, both in-person and online. We offer courses in the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels on topics ranging from basic residential tankless installation to commercial troubleshooting. You can even request offsite training at your place of business.

Resources-Tech Tips: The newest addition to our website is a video library that you can access by clicking Resources in the top menu, and then Tech Tips. Here you will find videos that cover topics such as descaling procedures for a tankless water heater and unit installations. We anticipate releasing new videos roughly once per month.

Resources-Media Kit: If you have your own business site and would like to include literature and logos related to Noritz, click on Resources in the top menu, and then Media Kit. A variety of downloadable files are available that can serve as great assets for your own business.

Find a Distributor: Click on the Find a Distributor icon with the magnifying glass in the middle of the page. Here you can locate the nearest Noritz distributor by typing in your zip code.

The Noritz Professionals website is not limited to the above features. We have other resources, including a products database and plumbing diagrams. We are confident that you will find what you need on our website. Feel free to contact us with additional questions.

One of the most important details in installing your tankless water heater is how you vent your tankless water heater. Proper venting of a tankless water heater can ensure efficient operating and save the lifespan of your unit.

Choosing the tankless route for your family’s water heating needs surely comes with all sorts of benefits--like cutting down on resources, saving your monthly bill and eliminating excess waste--but it also comes with its own unique maintenance and management. While known for saving homeowners money because they’re not constantly running and reheating mass amounts of water, tankless models save energy because they only fire up when needed.

Tankless water heaters thus tend to outlast outdated and oversized models because they are compact, convenient and efficient. But tankless water heaters that are gas fired can also have their own issues if not installed properly, like failing to live up to their intended lifespan because of poor venting. Venting a tankless water heater according to the manufacturer’s instructions is essential to the installation process for the water heater to function at length and effectively, and most importantly, to avoid any chance of danger and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Tankless water heaters allow for either horizontal venting (out a side wall) or up through the roof. Because tankless water heaters require PVC or special stainless steel piping as the vent material (which is much more expensive than copper, PEX or CPVC), a  short venting run is better for both the heater itself, as well as your savings, so many homeowners choose to move the location of their heater closer to an outside wall and run water lines to it instead. The Category III AL29-4C stainless steel is necessary because the combustion efficiency of the heater is likely to create a highly acidic condensate that destroys your standard vent material in just short amounts of time. The special stainless steel venting material also helps to withstand the positive pressure created by the system.

Sticking to the guidelines set out in the manufacturer's instructions will ensure you get the most out of your tankless water heater, saving you time, energy and money with every use. Venting your tankless water heater properly the first time around works to eliminate the possibility of inefficiency and risk, when dealing with something as serious as gas and carbon monoxide. Extra attention spent in the proper installation of your venting saves you the worry later, knowing your tankless water heater is draining condensate and expelling gasses safely.