NORITZ BLOG

Get the latest in Noritz news and announcements.

How to Perform Tankless Water Heater Internal Maintenance

If you have installed a Noritz tankless water heater, then you know the convenience and water-saving benefits it yields by providing hot water on demand for your clients. To keep that hot water flowing at the correct temperature, however, they need to know to call you back to perform regular maintenance every two to three years.

In this post, we will look at how to perform tankless water heater internal maintenance.

• Make sure to turn the gas valve off and unplug the unit.
• Remove the heater’s front cover with a Phillips head screwdriver and inspect the inside, looking for any corrosion or discoloration.
• Detach the white detectors from the flame rod and ignition plug and remove the screws on the sides with a Phillips head screwdriver. Do not use power tools, as they might strip the screws.
• Carefully remove the flame rod and sensor. The flame rod and ignition plug can be cleaned with fine grit sandpaper. Do not touch the end of the probes that go into the burner, but make sure there is no buildup on them.
• Next, disconnect the gas manifold connection from the wiring harness by pressing the top connector. To remove the C clamp, hold the gas manifold in place and pull out the clamp.
• Remove the gas manifold by using a Phillips head screwdriver to remove its four large screws. It will loosen but not fully release. Push up on the gas manifold pipe and remove the gas manifold to reveal the burner chamber.
• Now it’s time to inspect the fan. Remove the GFCI mounting bracket plate. Carefully push the wires aside and remove the two screws. Gently move the plate away. Disconnect the fan from the wiring harness by pressing the top connector. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the three fan screws. Pull the entire fan motor and blades from its housing.
• If the fan is dirty or clogged with debris, you can clean it using a brush. Brush under the burner plate to remove any bugs or debris. Continue to clean the entire fan by brushing around as necessary. Use compressed air to remove any remaining particles. If the fan is really dirty, soak it in a degreaser. The fan blade will need to be removed from the motor and completely dried before reinstalling. Use compressed air to blow out all of the components until they are clean. Repeat as needed.

The tankless unit has now been serviced and is ready to put back together. All maintenance info can be found in your Noritz homeowner’s guide.

To view video instructions for this maintenance process, please click here.

Tips for Performing Tankless Water Heater External Maintenance

If you own a Noritz tankless water heater, you know the convenience and water-saving benefits it yields by providing hot water on demand. To keep that hot water flowing as long as possible, it is important to perform regular tankless water heater external maintenance.

In this post, we will look at how to perform external maintenance of your tankless water heater. The following is based on an instructional video called How to Perform Noritz Periodic Maintenance.

• Start by doing a visual inspection around the heater, looking for combustible materials that could be a future hazard.

• Listen closely to the heater to detect abnormal sounds during operation.

• Check for abnormalities in the external appearance, like discoloration. Wipe the outside surface of the water heater and remote control with a wet cloth, then dry. Use a neutral detergent to clean any stains. Do not use benzene, oil or fatty detergents to clean the remote. Although the unit is water-resistant, it is not water-proof.

• For DV condensing models, remove the SV conversion kit piece from the intake valve and check for dust and soot in the exhaust. Use the end of a screwdriver to pop out and remove the screen, checking for dirt and debris. It’s always best to clean both sides of the screen with water and a brush to ensure that air can properly flow into the system. Cleaning the screen is important to avoid an Error Code 90. Make sure the screen is dry before returning the conversion kit to the intake.

• Check the pressure relief valve to ensure it does not have any leaks. Continue to check all other connections and make sure that everything is fitted correctly.

• Open the pressure relief valve to ensure that everything is in working order and that it turns off. If the pressure relief valve is leaking or dripping, it will need to be replaced.

• To replace the pressure relief valve, close the inlet supply valve by turning it to the right. Next, turn on a few hot-water fixtures in your home or building. With a bucket ready to catch draining water, remove the inlet and outlet drain caps on the water heater’s isolator kits. Then open up both drain valves. Take the water drain valve with filter out of the inlet port. Clean the filter thoroughly with your fingers under running water to remove any debris. Dry it and put it back into the inlet port, close the drain plugs, and replace the caps. Close the water fixtures you opened in the beginning. Open the water supply valve and check for any water leaks from the drain plug or water drain valve.

• In our next post, we will explore how to perform internal maintenance on your tankless water heater.

Are you planning a new bathroom remodel? Don’t let it become a nightmare. Here are five common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Along with kitchens, bathrooms are the rooms homeowners most frequently want to renovate. A good bathroom is stylish, luxurious, functional and comfortable. But getting there isn’t always easy, and many homeowners make costly or time-consuming mistakes. Here are the top five mistakes to avoid when remodeling your bathroom:

1. Too much bathroom in too little space.

One of the most common problems with bathrooms is that they end up feeling crowded, too small or inconveniently arranged. This is especially true when adding a new bathroom where there wasn’t one before. Think carefully about how doors and drawers will open, whether a sloping ceiling will be a bother, and whether you really have space for the fixtures you’re choosing. Consider a pedestal sink in lieu of a vanity, with some shelving high up on the wall.

2. Getting the most inexpensive contractor.

Bathrooms are among the projects most likely to run over budget and past deadline. This is because they often require plumbing, electrical, and tile work on top of routine renovation. As a result, you need to look at quotes from contractors very carefully. If one is lower, make sure absolutely everything is included before you jump on it, and only pay half up front.

3. Poor ventilation or no ventilation.

Ventilation is absolutely essential in a bathroom, even when there is no shower/bath. There will be moisture in every bathroom and if it isn’t being vented it will lead to mildew or mold, which fuels sickness and allergies. As a general rule of thumb, if you have no way of venting a space then it shouldn’t be a bathroom.

4. Materials that won’t last or low quality materials.

Bathroom fixtures come in a wide range of styles and price points. Likewise, flooring ranges from the low-cost rolls to expensive tile. We all need to stay within budget, but try to aim for at least the mid-level bathroom fixtures. They really will hold up longer and look better for years to come.

5. A wasteful water heater.

If you’re adding a new bathroom, don’t make the mistake of investing in an old fashioned tank-based water heater. A tankless water heater will save you big money on energy bills and provide hot water on demand. By providing proper maintenance and replacing your water heater when necessary will give you years of enjoyment in your new bathroom remodel.

Before installing anything in your home, you probably go through a research process to determine who is best qualified to successfully complete the job. You may browse the internet for contractor reviews or talk to neighbors for recommendations. Even though any contractor in a given field is probably capable of doing the job, you want one who has been vetted and proven to know his or her trade.

The same holds true a Noritz tankless installation. According to Jason Fleming, Sr. Marketing and Customer Care Manager for Noritz America, “Any contractor can install Noritz, but it is in your best interest to utilize contractors that have been trained to install and service Noritz products.”

The importance of a proper tankless water heater installation cannot be overemphasized. “Improper gas line sizing or venting, unclean or insufficient makeup air and cross lines in the plumbing are all potential installation mistakes that can be made if the contractor is not 100 percent knowledgeable,” warns Fleming. “The problem is that many of these mistakes will not present themselves immediately,” he adds.

Thus, your tankless installation may seem sound at first, but a few weeks or months down the road, the error messages might begin to crop up. “Ultimately, an improper installation will significantly reduce your tankless water heater’s life,” admits Fleming.

You might be wondering how on earth to locate an installing contractor who is familiar with Noritz products. After all, sometimes it’s a hassle just to verify that the contractor is insured. “We have developed an online dealer locator to make finding the ideal tankless installer quick and easy,” assures Fleming.

The dealer locator simply asks for your zip code and a distance radius ranging from two to 50 miles. Upon entering the information, you will receive a list of nearby Noritz installers and their contact information.

“Noritz trains contractors daily to ensure they have the most up to date information on our ever-changing product line,” concludes Fleming.  “Do your research and make sure your contractor is familiar with tankless, and familiar with Noritz.”

Tankless heaters aren’t just for homes anymore. Here are four ways a commercial tankless heater can help your business—and save you money.

Often when we talk about the advantages of tankless water heaters, we frame the conversation in terms of the home consumer. But increasingly businesses are switching to tankless as well. Why? Well, here are four major benefits a tankless heater brings:

1. Save money on water heating. Without a doubt the biggest benefit of a tankless water heater to any business is the one that affects your bottom line. Tankless heaters run more efficiently than traditional water heaters and they cost less to run. This savings happens twice over: first because the tankless unit itself is more efficient when heating up any given quantity of water, and second because it only heats water when you need it. A traditional heater keeps burning energy to heat up the tank over and over, even during low demand periods. Tankless eliminates the waste and business owners can see the difference in their energy bills.
2. Keep up with demand. No matter how big the tank, with enough customers and enough faucets running a traditional heater will eventually run out. With tankless, when you choose a unit with enough capacity for your needs, there is no such thing as running out of hot water. It heats up however much you need, when you need it. For small businesses this can be as simple as a small tankless unit with enough capacity for a single family home. But even for high demand businesses like a large restaurant, there are tankless heaters that can keep your water steaming hot indefinitely.
3. Show your dedication to the environment. As an energy saving appliance, a tankless water heater is green technology and showcases your dedication to the earth. Not only does that appeal to more and more customers, it can also save you money, helping you qualify for LEED credits and local or state rebates and tax incentives.
4. Get more years of hot water. Any appliance you put in your business will wear out eventually, and maintaining or replacing them is a big part of the cost associated with the space. Tankless heaters offer a big advantage in this regard: they are very low-maintenance units, and they typically last years longer than their traditional counterparts. That means savings.

What kind of hot water capacity does your business need? What has you considering going tankless?

Ever notice a crusty white or green substance on your shower wall, showerhead or faucet? It’s called lime scale or scale deposits, and it forms when the calcium in water separates and begins to accumulate.

Although not as visible, this same process occurs inside both storage tank and tankless water heaters to varying degrees, depending upon the hardness of the water in your area. Randy Oshiro, Assistant Manager of Engineering at Noritz, explains how this happens and how to eliminate it in a tankless unit.

“Scale is formed when the heat energy inside a tankless water heater separates calcium from water,” explains Oshiro. “Those calcium deposits will accumulate on the heat exchangers over time and, left unchecked, lower your water heater’s efficiency and life span.”

Essentially, the built-up scale makes heat transfer within the tankless unit more difficult. As a result, the unit has to work harder in order to heat the water to the set-point temperature. As with anything that is strained, an overworked water heater can potentially give out long before its time. Meanwhile, it will unnecessarily waste energy through its inefficient operation.

Detecting scale buildup is not always easy. Fortunately, many Noritz tankless water heaters come with scale detection software technology. This technology measures changes in heat transfer inside the unit to figure out if there’s too much scale. If it detects that heat transfer has slowed, it sends an error message that it’s time to descale.

For those units that do not include this software, Oshiro recommends relying on experience when deciding when to descale. “After installing your water heater, schedule a maintenance checkup in one year. If, during that checkup, your plumber notices significant scale buildup, you will know that you should descale at least once per year. If not, you can go longer,” advises Oshiro, adding that Noritz does plan to implement scale detection software on all future products.

We’ve mentioned descaling, but what is it exactly, and how is it done? “Descaling refers to neutralizing the calcium deposits,” states Oshiro. “If you’ve ever poured vinegar on a clam shell, you probably noticed that it disintegrated into a milky liquid. The same principle applies to getting rid of scale.”

To descale a tankless water heater, Noritz recommends pumping kitchen-grade vinegar through the system for about an hour. Although a plumber is recommended, if you have the right equipment and ability, Oshiro says it can be a do-it-yourself job.  Noritz provides descaling procedures in this FAQ.

When you descale your tankless water heater, all of the calcium deposits will dissolve just like that clam shell, and you will once again have a fully operational and efficient unit.

Noritz Tankless Installer of the Year Contest

What sets you apart from your fellow installers? What drives and inspires you to do the best work possible? We’d love to hear about it!

Noritz is having our first ever Noritz Tankless Installer of the Year Contest , and you could be the winner!

To enter, make a video that is no longer than 15 seconds. In this video, briefly tell us why you choose to install Noritz tankless water heaters in your projects. Your reason could be anything from being one of our original installers, to your commitment to being green, or your hard work and dedication to your profession. We want to know why you spec Noritz!

Entering is simple!

Phase One: September 8 to October 31

1. Tell us why choose Noritz in a 15-second-or-less video (Pro tip: Record with your cell phone!).
2. Post it to Instagram or YouTube using #NoritzPro OR email us your video at Noritz.marketing@gmail.com and we’ll do the submitting process for you!
3. Once uploaded, submit your video to our Installer of the Year landing page here<LINK: https://woobox.com/5uc24d >! It’s easy, just copy and past the link to your video.

Phase 2: November 2 to 6

Once your video is posted, it’s time to vote. The video with the most votes by November 6 will earn the title of Installer of the Year and our amazing prize pack!

Follow the conversation online by tracking the hashtag #NoritzPro <link: https://bit.ly/1JPpvse> and contact us at Noritz.marketing@gmail.com for any details.

In today’s fast-paced society, people want everything now. We are equally impatient when it comes to instant hot water — and for good reason: a lot of water is wasted down the drain, as we wait for the warm water to arrive. Whether you are washing your hands, the dishes, or taking a shower, you want hot water immediately.

By now you may have heard about tankless water heaters and how they provide instant hot water “on demand.” You may interpret this as meaning that as soon as you turn on the faucet, warm water will begin flowing like a geyser.

It is an understandably common myth. Although tankless water heaters do provide hot water on demand by detecting when you turn on the faucet and instantly heating incoming water, they cannot make that water move any faster through the piping.

“The speed at which you get hot water is wholly dependent on the location of the tankless water heater relative to the fixture,” says Jason Fleming, marketing and customer care manager at Noritz America. “If your fixture is right next to the heater, you will hardly have to wait at all. But if you are showering at the other end of the building, that wait time is not going to decrease.”

With tankless, once the hot water does reach you, however, it will never ever run out, unlike a tank-type heater, which contains a finite amount of water.

Those who want immediate hot water have the option of installing a hot water recirculation system. Recirculation operates through a “loop” created in a home’s or building’s plumbing system. In addition to supply lines connecting the water heater to each outlet, a recirculation system also has a return line back to the heater— either from each hot-water outlet or from only the farthest fixture. A circulating pump moves hot water through this loop — in some systems, constantly, even when there is no demand for hot water — resulting in “instant” hot water when the tap or shower is turned on.

The Noritz NRCP line of residential water heaters offers immediate hot water, but without the energy consumption and expense of an always-on circulator. Instead of having hot water flow through the system continuously, an integral display on the front of the water heater allows homeowners to program its arrival at the outlet with a precision down to the half-hour.

An alternative, “auto” setting permits the system to “learn” a household’s water-usage routines quickly and automatically control the recirculation loop-activation times, allowing for immediate hot water when it is needed most.

In a sense then, a hot water recirculation system is the high-speed internet of indoor water supply. Combined with a tankless water heater, it truly will allow for instant, unlimited hot water.

Taking a shower should be enjoyable, meant to energize you in the morning, calm you in the evening

and always leave you feeling refreshed and clean. Unfortunately, little annoyances can detract from the

overall experience, so we have created a list of the top five shower problems  and solutions to resolve them.

1. Running Out of Hot Water
If you have a tank-type water heater, there is a finite amount of hot water you can use before you deplete the reserve in the storage tank, which usually holds from 30 to 50 gallons. This becomes unpleasantly apparent whenever you start a shower after someone has just taken one for an hour—there is little to no hot water left.

A Noritz tankless water heater eliminates this problem. Unlike traditional water heaters, which constantly heat the water, tankless operates on-demand with a high-powered burner. This means that once you turn that faucet, the tankless unit will kick into gear, and you will enjoy as much hot water as you need for as long as you need it. You could even take a five-hour shower. Just don’t blame us for the water bill.

2. Waiting for Hot Water
When you step into your shower, you want to get clean now…not three minutes later when the water has finally warmed to a suitable temperature. Waiting around for warm water is not only an annoyance, but also an energy-waster, since potentially gallons of unused cold water — and hot water if you wait too long to get in — are flowing down the drain.

You may reduce the wait time for hot water by installing a tankless water heater, which will heat water on demand. However, this does not eliminate the time it takes for the water to travel from the heater to the shower head. A better solution involves installing a hot water recirculation system that will keep warm water close to the outlet with the help of a timer or sensor. The new Noritz NRCP Condensing Tankless Water Heater uses a built-in pump to circulate hot water on demand, eliminating both the wait for and the waste of hot water.

3. A Clogged Drain
Clogged drains can mean having to stand in stagnant water while showering. Yuck. Most of the time, hair and dirt cause these clogs, and they can be avoided by placing a hair catcher in your drain. Another preventive measure involves pouring a gallon of boiling water down the drain after showering to loosen up any remaining gunk.

For tougher clogs, you can use a bent wire to remove hair, dirt and soap scum. Vinegar or any CLR product can also be poured down the drain to unclog it. In some cases, a good old-fashioned plunger may be required to remove the obstruction. If none of these options work, it may be time to call a plumbing professional.

4. Reduced Flow
You are standing in the shower enjoying a refreshing blast of water when suddenly the torrent turns into a sprinkle and you can barely wash your hands, much less your body. What Most plumbing systems use a trunk-and-branch design, meaning that a large pipe (a “trunk”) runs from one end of the structure to the other, and smaller pipes “branch” off to individual fixtures. If you are taking a shower on the far end of your home and someone opens a faucet,starts a clothes washer or flushes a toilet, water will get diverted, and you will be left with less. Many fixes to this problem can be costly, such as increasing your pipes’ diameter so more water flows toward each fixture. One totally free option that you can implement today is to reduce your toilet’s water usage. Close the supply valve to your toilet slightly, so that it does not take in as much water. Check with a plumber before doing this, though, since the less water going to the toilet, the less flushing power it has!

5. Bursts of Hot Water
The opposite of running out of hot water in your shower is getting scalded by a sudden rush of This problem has the same cause as “Reduced Flow”: if you are in the shower and someone flushes a toilet elsewhere, cold water is getting drawn to the toilet. With less cold water “tempering” your hot water, the water coming into your shower will be much hotter than the Installing high-efficiency toilets should help alleviate this problem by reducing the amount of water needed to flush them. Another fix involves installing a thermostatic mixing valve in your showers. This device will modulate the hot- and cold-water flows, whatever the usage by other fixtures, to keep the temperature of the shower consistently safe as well as comfortable.

Are Tankless Water Heaters Too Small For Big Jobs?

We seem to feel more secure around larger people, objects, etc. Suppose you are a celebrity hiring a bodyguard. Who would you rather have protecting you? A 5-foot-2-inch, 110-pound teenager or a 6-foot-5-inch, 300-pound ex-football star? Tankless water heaters and water heaters tend to have the same effect.

That large tank in your basement or mechanical room is extremely reassuring. You know that there is water inside constantly warming up to fill your bath tub, sink or dishwasher. If you’ve never used a tankless water heater, it can be difficult to fathom how that compact, wall-hung unit can heat the water for an entire house or place of business. When you find yourself needing a new water heater, the temptation to stick with the larger tank-type unit can be decisive.

Unfortunately, your faith in size may be misplaced, because that larger tank-type heater will bring even larger headaches: higher energy consumption, a shorter life span and the threat of bursting. A properly-sized tankless unit from Noritz, on the other hand, will effectively handle any application without these problems.

According to Jason Fleming, Sr. Marketing and Customer Care Manager at Noritz, properly sizing a tankless water heater depends on climate and household needs.

Climate impacts the flow rate a given water heater can deliver. “Consider the differences between heating water in Los Angeles versus Chicago,” explains Fleming. “While in Los Angeles incoming water may be 65 degrees Fahrenheit, in Chicago it might be 45 degrees, and both water heaters need to raise the temperature to 120 degrees. Thus, in the colder climate, the water heater needs to heat incoming water by a greater amount to meet the desired temperature, which requires a more powerful unit — as measured in BTUs per hour — to maintain identical flow rate.” Essentially, a colder climate will require more BTUs and a warmer climate, fewer — assuming household needs are equal.

Household needs are rarely equal, however, and that is the second part of the equation for sizing a water heater. For example, a household in Florida that uses three times the amount of water in a given hour than a household in Alaska may need a larger unit to meet demand, despite the warmer climate.

No matter what your water needs, Noritz has a tankless unit to meet them, and you can use the Noritz tankless sizing calculator to find out what will work best. Tankless units may be much smaller than tank-types, but they will easily handle any water demands while using far less energy. In fact, their small size is actually an advantage in that it opens up space in your basement, mechanical room, etc. In warmer sections of the country, you can even install them outdoors.

It may be that we naturally feel safer around larger things, but when it comes to tankless versus tank, David beats Goliath.