NORITZ BLOG

Few things are more annoying in life than that unpleasant feeling you get when the hot-water supply runs out during a shower. That cold blast makes you wish for a way to enjoy hot water on demand. Fortunately, a tankless water heater can easily grant your wish.

Tankless heaters provide hot water only when needed — “on demand” — rather than storing and continually reheating water in a tank in anticipation of demand. Americans have become so accustomed to storage tank-type water heaters, which have been around for roughly a century, many remain unaware of how their tankless counterparts work or their energy- and space-saving advantages.

First some basics. Tankless water heaters know exactly when to turn on and off. A flow sensor detects an open faucet, shower or washer, igniting the burner inside the tankless unit. The burner heats the water until you turn the fitting or appliance off, at which point the burner immediately stops. Tank-type water heaters, on the other hand, expend energy 24/7, continually heating and reheating water to a set temperature, even when you aren’t home.

With energy ratings in excess of 80 percent, tankless units are 20 percentage points more energy-efficient than conventional tank-type water heaters, leading to savings on energy bills every month. By eliminating a giant tank, wall-hung tankless units also save on space. Finally, tankless avoids the buildup of mineral deposits over time at the bottom of a storage tank, while also eliminating the nightmare scenario of a tank bursting and flooding the floor.

Condensing tankless water heaters, a “step-up” from regular tankless units, boost efficiency further by utilizing a secondary heat exchanger to capture additional heat from the combustion gases before they escape up the flue.  Condensing heaters use this extra heat to preheat incoming cold water, resulting in efficiency ratings over 90 percent.

Either type of tankless water heater saves money, space and personal comfort over the long run, ultimately delivering a payback on your investment. Noritz tankless water heaters are backed with a 12-year warranty, or roughly double that of a standard tank unit. What’s more, recent advancements have narrowed the installed-cost gap between tank and tankless, meaning it’s becoming more affordable than ever to enjoy hot water on demand.

With tankless, you’ll be able to take shower after shower without any chilly surprises — in the shower or in the mail.

We’re heading to The International Builders’ Show January 20 to 22! Come and visit us in booth C8322 and see first-hand how you could benefit from installing a tankless water heater. Here are a few highlights you can expect to see in our booth at  IBS 2015 Las Vegas:

• The NEW EZTR40: Come and see how we’re revolutionizing the tankless industry with our EZTR. Featuring a revolutionary new venting style that utilizes 2”flexible polypropylene vent to run through existing B-vent. It also has top mount connections that provide an intuitive and straightforward install, the EZTR40 lets you get the job done fast, easy and smart.
• The NEW NRCP: The ENERGY STAR-qualified NRCP98-DV and the NRCP1112-DV, with an Energy Factor of 0.95, use a built-in pump to circulate hot water on demand, eliminating long waits at the shower and the wasting of water and energy down the drain.

Don’t forget to head over to one of our iPad Stations located in our booth for your chance to win a 70” Vizio Smart TV. Flip through our product selection, take our survey and more!

We hope to see you on the show floor at IBS 2015 Las Vegas!

Whether it’s enjoying a warm drink, bundling up by a fire or taking a hot shower after some serious snow shoveling, this is the time of the year when warming up is most important to us.

Certainly, the last thing anyone wants is to be left out in the cold. Think about it: What if there was a way to eliminate those long, awful waits for hot water at the shower, while at the same time avoid wasting water and energy down the drain? Well, Noritz has the answer…

The new NRCP line of residential tankless water heaters from Noritz America combines the high efficiency of condensing technology with the comfort and savings of on-demand, hot-water recirculation.

The digital display on the front of the water heater allows homeowners to program the recirculation system to operate only when needed, with precision down to the hour. An alternative auto setting lets the system learn a household’s water-usage routines and automatically allow for immediate hot water when it is needed the most.

How do these two concepts work together? Let’s find out!

1. Recirculation:

A circulating pump inside the water heater keeps hot water close to the outlet — such as a shower head — minimizing the wait and, therefore, the waste of unused potable water down the drain. Saving water, in this case, is doubly beneficial, because recirculation also avoids wasting the energy used to heat that water.

        2. Condensing Technology:

Similar to conventional tankless water heaters, condensing models save energy and protect the environment by heating water strictly on demand; i.e., only when the faucet, shower or appliance is turned on. These units require no standing pilot light and no storage, permitting substantial energy savings because there’s no wasteful reheating of stored water, as with traditional storage-type heaters.

A condensing water heater has not one, but two, heat exchangers: a primary exchanger to heat the water moving through it; and a secondary exchanger to draw heat from the warm gases going up the flue — the by-products of the water heater’s combustion process. This secondary device uses the heat from the combustion gases to preheat incoming cold water on its way to the primary heat exchanger. Squeezing more heat from the departing flue gases is what boosts the unit’s efficiency rating to more than 90 percent.

That’s why the Noritz NRCP98-DV and the NRCP1112-DV have Energy Factors that are more than 10 points higher than that of a comparably sized, conventional tankless unit, and approximately 30 points higher than a standard, tank-type, gas-fired water heater.

So, not only are you improving your showering experience, but you also get enhanced energy- and cost-saving benefits by going with tankless.

For more information about the NRCP Condensing Tankless Water Heater, please visit www.noritz.com.

Over the last two months our Road Trip team has been hard at work, travelling from coast to coast and visiting Noritz wholesalers and installers to talk about our brand new

EZTR. We caught up with the team leads, Kevin Tague & Lance Bailey to ask them a few Q’s about their time on the road. Check it out:

1. What was the most common question you received about the product?

L: Most common questions were a mix of venting applications and installing specifics.

K:  The most common question I got on the road was “How much?” We have no set pricing yet but pricing ranges that we did run by our installers seemed in line with their expectations considering the entire EZTR40 unit includes venting, isolation valves, and vent attachments for the unit and on the roof.
 

 

2. How was life on the road?

 
L: Life on the road was fast. Honestly, the two months that I was out seemed to fly by, and now it’s almost Christmas! The organizers of the road trip and our sales team did an amazing job of making my life on the road as easy as possible.
 
K: Life on the road was different! It was exciting to see the new places and talk with new people every day.
 

3. What was your favorite city to visit and why?

 
L:  I had a great time in Sarasota, FL. going to Siesta Key, etc.
 
K: I really liked the trip out to Arizona. I met and got to do events with our rep R&G Sales. They are a great group. It was also the right time of year, sunny and 80 degrees out every day. That was lucky.
 

4. What are some of the responses you are getting on the new EZTR from installers and contractors?

 
L: Many are excited to try it and were asking when it would be available. Even though this is a smaller size to use the existing gas line, many plumbers are asking for larger capacities with the same venting system.
 
K: The main response we have gotten from installers have been things like:

• “That’s easy”
• “Why didn't anyone think of this sooner?”
• “It's about time you make it easier for us!”
• “We are ready to put in a few now.”

5. What are some of the key EZTR features you feel are important for installers to know?

 
L: That it is meant to fill a particular need, namely a tankless unit that is affordable for an average homeowner. The EZTR is not a solution to every tankless installation; rather it is a unit for tank replacements where utilizing the existing vent will save time and money. The rest of the Noritz line, such as the condensing units and/or outdoor units are still available for many applications.
 
K: The three main features that will save the installers a lot of time on the installation:
- Top mounted water connections
- Existing 1/2" gas line
- Using the existing venting as our sleeve.
 
 
To learn more about the Noritz Road Trip, visit our Facebook page.
 

Over the last two months our Road Trip team has been hard at work, travelling from coast to coast and visiting Noritz wholesalers and installers to talk about our brand new

EZTR. We caught up with the team leads, Kevin Tague & Lance Bailey to ask them a few Q’s about their time on the road. Check it out:

1. What was the most common question you received about the product?

L: Most common questions were a mix of venting applications and installing specifics.

K:  The most common question I got on the road was “How much?” We have no set pricing yet but pricing ranges that we did run by our installers seemed in line with their expectations considering the entire EZTR40 unit includes venting, isolation valves, and vent attachments for the unit and on the roof.

2. How was life on the road?

L: Life on the road was fast. Honestly, the two months that I was out seemed to fly by, and now it’s almost Christmas! The organizers of the road trip and our sales team did an amazing job of making my life on the road as easy as possible.

K: Life on the road was different! It was exciting to see the new places and talk with new people every day.

3. What was your favorite city to visit and why?

L:  I had a great time in Sarasota, FL. going to Siesta Key, etc.

K: I really liked the trip out to Arizona. I met and got to do events with our rep R&G Sales. They are a great group. It was also the right time of year, sunny and 80 degrees out every day. That was lucky.

4. What are some of the responses you are getting on the new EZTR from installers and contractors?

L: Many are excited to try it and were asking when it would be available. Even though this is a smaller size to use the existing gas line, many plumbers are asking for larger capacities with the same venting system.

K: The main response we have gotten from installers have been things like:

• “That’s easy”
• “Why didn't anyone think of this sooner?”
• “It's about time you make it easier for us!”
• “We are ready to put in a few now.”

5. What are some of the key EZTR features you feel are important for installers to know?

L: That it is meant to fill a particular need, namely a tankless unit that is affordable for an average homeowner. The EZTR is not a solution to every tankless installation; rather it is a unit for tank replacements where utilizing the existing vent will save time and money. The rest of the Noritz line, such as the condensing units and/or outdoor units are still available for many applications.

K: The three main features that will save the installers a lot of time on the installation:

- Top mounted water connections

- Existing 1/2" gas line

- Using the existing venting as our sleeve.

To learn more about the Noritz Road Trip, visit our Facebook page.

The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) will require higher Efficiency Factor ratings on all storage tank-type water heater units, increasing space requirements and raising the cost for homeowners.

Replacing your current tank-type water heater may soon bring bigger installation headaches—and higher costs—than in the past, thanks to pending federally mandated energy-efficiency requirements.

As a part of the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), a new update will require a higher Energy Factor (EF) rating on almost all tank-type, residential gas, electric, oil and water heaters. The new regulations will become effective on April 16, 2015,

These standards will play a major role in efforts to save energy nationwide, helping people save money and reduce carbon pollution, ensuring that we are working towards an energy-stable future. But the changes will bring certain challenges for installers of storage-tank water heaters and their customers.

What does this mean?

Under these new energy efficiency regulations, tank-type water heaters will be significantly larger and will therefore take up more space in areas of the home in which space is already limited; e.g., basement mechanical areas, garages, attics, utility closets, etc. For example, gas water heaters under 55 gallons will be an additional 2 inches taller and 2 inches wider in diameter.

Homes that use a closet to house a water heater, as well as apartment and condo applications, are especially vulnerable to these dimensional changes.

In a water heater-replacement scenario where space is a concern, sticking with the tank-type water heater route may result in having to use a model with a smaller storage capacity, or one with both less capacity and a larger physical size than the unit that is currently in place. In either case, the homeowner will have less hot water for daily cleaning and washing activities.

The perfect solution…

The bottom line is that energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important in all aspects of our daily lives, and we need to consider what we can do to live greener. If you think you’ll need to replace your water heater soon, tankless is the perfect solution.

Space for a water heater may be limited in your home, whether it’s in your closet, garage or basement. The great thing about tankless technology is that it already incorporates the demands of the new NAECA guidelines. The average EF of most tankless water heaters is already 20 to 30 points above that of a standard, tank-type water heater, and the units are wall-hung, meaning that they will readily fit into tight spaces that cannot accommodate the new and larger tank water heaters.

Doing a tankless-for-tank change-out can present its own special complications, of course. But Noritz recently unveiled a much easier and more cost-effective way to make such a change-out.

The new Noritz EZTR40 Residential Tankless Water Heater is engineered to replace any 40-Gal. tank-type water heater, handling the hot-water needs of the entire household.

With new features that make the tank-replacement job more intuitive and straightforward, homeowners get the benefits of time savings and installation ease with all the energy- and space-saving advantages of tankless.

For more information on tankless water with the EZTR40, please visit www.noritz.com.

Things around the house have a nasty habit of freezing during the winter. Unless you decide to move to a warm, southern climate, you’d better take the steps to break that habit. Especially with the icy start to this winter season, one of the last things you want those frigid temperatures to affect is your Noritz tankless water heater.

Although designed to withstand winter’s worst, tankless water heating systems should not be completely neglected during the cold weather, especially when it comes to their external plumbing. Here are some simple tips on ensuring your water remains warm this winter.

Insulate your external pipes:  Although the tankless unit itself contains freeze prevention heaters, the hot- and cold-water plumbing lines leading to and from the heater need protection as well. If freezing does happen, this is where it will occur. Protect these pipes by insulating them with something as simple as aluminum foil. More reliable options include heat tape, electric heaters, solenoids and/or pipe covers.

Make sure you have enough gas: If the gas appliances in your home require more gas than your meter is sized to handle, you run the risk of an insufficient fuel supply, which can hinder performance. Add all gas-appliance Btuh demands and compare to gas meter size. If the meter capacity is less than your total household Btuh load, contact your gas company.

Keep the water flowing: Water flowing through your pipes will lessen the chance of freezing. If you have a recirculation plumbing system, keep it running frequently during the winter. Although this will cost more in energy, it’s preferable to your pipes freezing and a lack of warm water. If you don’t have a recirculation system, let a hot-water faucet slightly trickle (.1 gal./minute) to prevent freezing on extremely cold days.

Stay powered: Your tankless water heater’s freeze prevention heaters need electrical power to operate. Never unplug the power or disconnect electrical flow to the unit during the winter. In fact, consider acquiring a backup generator just in case the power happens to go out.

Consider your venting: In extremely cold temperatures, back draft entering through your unit’s vents might be an issue. To mitigate a back draft’s effects, run your vent vertically instead of horizontally.

Keep your unit in a warm area: If you live in an area with subzero weather conditions, install your tankless unit in a heated part of your home. At the very least, make sure your unit is installed on the walls adjacent to a heated space rather than to the outdoors.

All of these tips are especially relevant if you live in a colder climate. But, as we have seen this season, even warmer climates are at risk for freezing temperatures from time to time. If you properly prepare your tankless water heater, though, you’ll have nothing to worry about.

For more specific freeze-prevention tips regarding your particular Noritz tankless water heater, please find your owner’s manual at https://support-legacy.noritz.com/technical-literature.php.

The upcoming  EZTR40 from Noritz makes replacing a 40-gallon, gas-fired, storage tank-type water heater easier— and therefore more affordable— than ever. If your local gas utility offers rebates for tankless water heaters, chances are, the installed cost of a new Noritz EZTR40 could rival that of doing a "like-for-like" replacement of your old tank model.

The greater affordability of the EZTR40 is due to several important factors. One is that this new product permits the use of the very same half-inch gas line that now services your tank-type heater. Not having to run a new gas line is a major cost savings. Your installer will simply disconnect the gas line from the old unit and, after it is removed and the new tankless hung in place, reattach the line to the EZTR40.

Until recently, it was thought that replacing a tank water heater with a tankless unit automatically required upsizing from a half-inch gas line to a three-quarter-inch line, because of the additional fuel required by the larger, more powerful burner inside the tankless unit. This more powerful burner is needed to immediately raise the temperature of the cold water entering the tankless unit to the desired level for washing, cleaning and cooking. Remember, with tankless, there is no storage of hot water: the water temperature must go from cold to hot in an instant.

In 2012, the National Fuel and Gas Code was updated in an effort to stay current with changes in technology and the industry, as well as to clarify some key points. This new, more accurate interpretation of the code permits the use of the half-inch gas piping for inputs up to 174,000 BTU per hour, as long as the gas pressure to the water heater is at the appropriate level.

The EZTR40 helps you save in other ways besides using the same gas line as your current tank water heater.

• Unlike most tankless water heaters, the hot-and-cold water connections of the EZTR are located on the top of this unit (not the bottom), just like on a tank water heater. This allows the flexible hot-and-cold-water lines used by the old water heater to be quickly and easily reconnected to the new EZTR40 without having to create any additional plumbing.

• The EZTR40 vents with two-inch, flexible polypropylene tubing that is threaded directly through the existing B-Vent formerly used by the tank water heater it is replacing. As a result, there is no need to spend time — or money — changing out the vent.

In short, the Noritz EZTR40 makes tank replacement quick and simple, and therefore easier on your wallet. Which is why the tank-to-tankless switch is not as expensive as you may have been led to believe.

For more information on the EZTR40, please visit www.noritz.com.

Updates from the Noritz Road Trip

We’ve hit the road with our brand new EZTR40 and are already in our 5^th week of the Noritz Road Show! Here’s what people are saying about our new 40-gallon tank replacement. Want more details about the EZTR? Click here.

Mario Piz of Wool Plumbing Supply in Miami: "Very Cool"

Kelly Patterson, Kelly's Plumbing Service: "With the venting changes this will be an easy sale!"

Roland Yates, Elite Plumbing: "Finally someone came up with a replacement for a tank water heater"

Fabian Gavia, DR Tankless: "This will be awesome for condo and town home applications!"

Ken Quenga, Precision Plumbing & Tile: "Wow! I'm ready to put one in today"

Have you spotted the Noritz Truck? Tweet your pictures using the hashtag #NoritzRoadTrip!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @Noritz America and on Facebook for exciting daily updates from the Road Trip team.

Noritz Road Trip Featuring the EZTR40

Vroom vroom! Noritz is hitting the road with our brand new EZTR40, The 40 Gallon Tank Replacement. We’ll be showcasing our new time saving residential unit to contractors and installers at over 250 locations in the South and West from October 1 to November 20^th.

Lance Bailey, a Noritz Product Trainer, will be taking the Noritz EZTR along the South Route visiting North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Florida and much more while Kevin Tague, a Noritz Product Trainer, will be leading the road trip along the West Coast visiting California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Is the Noritz Road Trip heading to a town near you? Spot the Noritz Truck and tweet a picture to us using the hashtag #NoritzRoadTrip!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @NoritzAmerica and on Facebook for exciting daily updates from the Road Trip team!