NORITZ BLOG

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The NCC199CDV condensing tankless water heater is a finalist in the Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2018 Product of the Year contest.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer has announced Noritz’s newest commercial unit—the NCC199CDV—as a 2018 Product of the Year Finalist. The annual contest recognizes the most innovative products in the HVAC, fire/life safety, electrical, and plumbing systems engineering markets.

The NCC199CDV condensing tankless water heater offers specifiers and building engineers the ability to common vent up to six units in commercial applications, which offers the following installation benefits:

• Reduced vent terminations that save the time otherwise spent making additional wall or roof penetrations.
• Fewer necessary supports that eliminate extra material costs and the labor necessary to install them.
• Longer vent runs for added installation flexibility. The maximum run for common venting up to four units with 8-inch diameter pipe is 200 feet.
• A cleaner aesthetic than an individually-vented system, with all the extra supports and penetrations that entails.

In addition to the common venting capability, the unit comes with a thermal efficiency rating of 98 percent, which is the industry’s highest and makes it EPA ENERGY STAR^® certified.*
Up to 24 NCC199CDV units can be linked together, using the optional Multi-Unit System Controller, which offers the most control options on the market, including application functions for recirculation loops and supplemental storage tanks. BTU input can range from 18,000 to 4.8 million (for a 24-unit multi-system), yielding up to a 266:1 turndown ratio. An optional Quick-Connect cable is available for connecting two units.
Voting in the CSE Product of the Year Contest is open to qualified subscribers of the Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine, e-newsletter or whitepapers.
Vote for the NCC199CDV by clicking here.

*ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR mark are registered trademarks owned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Inspecting and maintaining your plumbing components (exposed pipes, toilets, sump pumps, and even tankless water heaters) is crucial to your peace of mind after the long winter.

Step outside and enjoy: The weather is warmer, the sunlight is brighter, and the sounds of birds and insects begin to fill the air. Spring is here and with it the promise of outdoor strolls, family picnics and late-night talks on the porch with friends.

With the snows a distant memory, revealing the grass and sprouting plants, it’s also a critical time to check your indoor and outdoor plumbing for winter damage. This is especially true after the long, frigid and snowy season much of the country experienced.

Here’s a short checklist:

Check outdoor pipes: Start outside and work your way back inside. Debris can collect over the autumn and winter and clog outdoor drain pipes. Make sure to clean them out completely. Also be sure to clear your roof and gutters of debris so those spring rains can easily drain.

Check for pipe cracks: This goes for both outdoor and indoor piping. The winter cold can cause water to freeze and expand inside your pipes, in turn causing them to crack and leak. Identify and fix these cracks as quickly as possible to prevent further damage. Another way to check for cracks indirectly is by turning on your faucets and making sure the water flow seems normal. If the pressure seems low, there might be a leak somewhere in the system, in which case it’s time to call a plumber.

Check your water heater: Whether you have a tank or tankless unit, spring is a good time to perform an annual inspection and flush out your water heater. Certain units, such as Noritz condensing tankless water heaters, have built-in freeze protection technology, but it’s still advised to open the cover and check for any cracks or leaks.

It’s also important to descale your water heater — especially if you live in a hard water area — to eliminate scale buildup that can decrease operating efficiency. Although it’s possible for savvy homeowners to descale a water heater themselves, a plumbing contractor should be brought in if you have any hesitation.

Check your sump pump: This is one of the most important parts of your plumbing system to check during the spring season, especially once those April showers roll in. Check the drain that runs outside for any debris. Then make certain that the pump hasn’t tilted or the float valve moved out of place. Finally, be sure to inspect the electrical components for damage.

Check your toilet for leaks: There’s an age-old test to see if your toilet has a leak. Drop a food dye tablet into your toilet tank. After 15 minutes, check the toilet bowl for any colored water. If you see the dyed water creeping in, you have a leak and need to call a plumber.

Completing this five-point checklist will let you enjoy the upcoming warm season without having plumbing problems on your mind.

The NCC300 condensing tankless water heater is Noritz’s largest offering of its type, with a maximum BTUH input of 300,000.

Noritz has just launched the juggernaut of condensing tankless water heaters. The new NCC300 is designed for the largest commercial applications, with a BTUH input range of up to 300,000. Despite its vast performance capability, it still leaves a smaller footprint than other options.

[Note: Currently, the NCC300 is only available in California, Minnesota, and Florida]

Most Efficient Performance

The NCC300 is one of the most powerful tankless water heaters in the industry with a 97 percent thermal efficiency, a whopping 20:1 turndown ratio and an ultra-low NOx emissions rating. Its efficient performance makes it EPA ENERGY STAR^® and AHRI certified. Commercial contractors and building owners can, therefore, qualify for generous gas rebates when choosing this unit for their applications.

Multi-System Space Savings

In multi-system commercial installations, the NCC300 saves up to 33 percent in space with its compact size and design, promoting simple installation for contractors and the ability to reclaim otherwise lost space.

Flexible Installation

The NCC300 can replace the non-condensing NCC380 models from Noritz within the same multi-system, including 5-inch stainless steel venting with a PVC-to-SS vent adaptor. It also has the ability to be outdoor wall-mounted. Whether installed outdoors or directly vented inside, the NCC300 can be joined to a multi-system of up to 24 units. It adapts to whatever the hot-water demand of the application is.

WiFi Enabled

Facility owners and managers can also control their NCC300 wirelessly with the Noritz Connect App for iTunes (available soon on Android devices).

As you can see, the robust performance of the NCC300 handles the toughest commercial applications without wasting energy or taking up much space. It comes with a five-year warranty on the stainless steel heat exchanger, a five-year warranty on parts and a one-year warranty on reasonable labor.

To learn more about our largest condensing unit, please visit www.noritz.com.

The NCC199CDV tankless was named a “Gold Winner” in a leading education publisher’s award competition

A Noritz tankless heater has been recognized for its exceptional ability to positively impact the learning environment in schools and colleges.

School Planning & Management and College Planning & Management magazines have named Noritz a 2017 New Product of the Year Award winner for its NCC199CDV condensing tankless water heater, released late last year.

The innovative heater, which is approved for common-venting up to six units in commercial applications, won the Gold Award in the competition’s HVAC category. An independent panel of judges considered its features, innovation, quality, durability, design, technical advances and impact on learning.

“Our New Product Awards program gives us the opportunity to honor companies that have developed products and services that go above and beyond in helping to improve the learning environment,” said Karen Cavallo, group publisher of School Planning & Management and College Planning & Management.

“Research shows that there is a direct correlation between quality learning environments and improved student success – and these companies are leading the charge to make schools a better place for teachers to teach and students to learn.”

Noritz’s EPA ENERGY STAR® certified NCC199CDV heater’s common-vent capability drastically reduces the number of required venting terminations, saving installers time and labor. The unit has a maximum input of 199,900 BTUs per hour (BTU/hr), and includes two austenite 316L stainless steel heat exchangers that resist corrosion from condensate and chloride, maximizing durability and lifespan.

Up to 24 of these units can be linked together, using the optional Multi-Unit System Controller. The latter offers the most control options on the market, including application functions for recirculation loops and supplemental storage tanks.

Overall, the heater’s flexible installation options means it can go into virtually any education environment without hassle. Its energy efficient performance ensures that students, faculty and staff will have hot water on demand without hurting the environment—or the district’s pocketbook.

For more information on the competition, please visit https://spaces4learning.com/pages/new-product-award.aspx

After spending nearly 20 years trying to heat his 5,000-square-foot Victorian mansion, Glenn Giaimo has found a comfortable, energy-efficient solution in a combination tankless unit from Noritz.

Victorian mansions are an awesome sight to behold and could easily be considered America’s very own “castles.” Yet, when actually living in one, there can be a significant trade-off: The high-ceilinged, drafty interiors can get really cold.

That, at least, was the experience of Glenn Giaimo and his wife when they first moved into a 5,000-square-foot Victorian home in Ferndale, CA, in 1997. Built in 1901, the home’s single-paned glass windows and lack of wall insulation made for a chilly experience at times. Improving heat retention was financially unfeasible; e.g., making the thousands of window-glass pieces double-paned.

Thus, the first 15 years of the Giaimos’ residing in the home became a constant battle to heat the place effectively. Initially, a combination of pellet stoves and a forced-air furnace couldn’t provide the desired warmth. In 2000, Glenn special-ordered 34 radiators to try hydronic heating. However, frequent failures and monthly, propane- fuel bills of upwards to $1,000 during the cold season led the Giaimos to abandon this option, too.

It seemed like nothing could do the job. The Giaimos were literally relying on electric heaters and extra blankets when Glenn discovered the CB199 Combination (Combi) tankless water heater and boiler from Noritz. The dual unit was much more affordable than his other option—solar heating, which would have cost more than $20,000 to install.

A Natural Fit

The Combi unit fits right into the Giaimos’ expensive hydronic setup from 2000, which had lain dormant for years. Glenn compared the Combi’s installation to a “miraculous heart transplant” that brought the 34 radiators back to life. The unit was installed by Fred Patterson of Patterson Sales Agency Inc., the local sales representative for Noritz, and a licensed plumber.

The new Combi boiler also fed the domestic hot water (DHW) heating system, which had previously been served by a 50-gallon storage-tank heater. Although the Giaimos had no problems with water heating, this switch was an added bonus. Removing the old tank saved space, as well as eliminated the energy-wasting need to constantly heat the stored water.

The Combi is able to convert 95 percent of the fuel it consumes into useable heat, which was crucial for the Giaimos’  situation. The home’s astounding level of heat loss was always the main reason the family had struggled to keep it warm in a cost-effective way. In addition, the home’s being on the National Historic Registry made it difficult, if not impossible, to reduce heat loss to the outdoors without altering the aesthetics of the original stained glass and clear windows.

Post-installation, and within an hour of turning on the unit, Glenn reported his first-floor set point temperature had already been reached. He also put the unit’s outdoor temperature reset control to use. Installed outdoors, the control measures the outside temperature and automatically adjusts the unit’s output to keep the interior warm. A hot-water recirculation system Glenn had installed provides nearly instantaneous hot water on the DHW side, even to the furthest fixtures.

Super Savings

For the Giaimos, who had been spending $6,000 during the six cold months of the year on propane for the stainless-steel boiler and, later, roughly $350 per month to power his multiple electric heaters, the Combi unit’s efficiency made a huge impact on energy costs. Glenn reports that he now spends around $80 per month on propane, and another $80 per month on his electric bill, for an 88 percent total reduction!

Based on his experience, Glenn believes that other historic homes lacking insulation can benefit from the Combi, especially if they have hydronic heating systems already in place. Finally, 20 years after moving in, the Giaimos have found a system capable of heating their Victorian mansion.

Noritz to Showcase Latest Innovations at January Trade Shows

Noritz is excited to showcase its latest tankless water heating innovations this month at the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando and the AHR Expo in Chicago. As always, our goals have been to maximize customer comfort while conserving energy and space.
This year, we’ll be at Booth W7583 at IBS and Booth 4983 at AHR. Here are the highlights:
EZ Tankless Water Heating
Designed expressly for the North American market, the EPA ENERGY STAR^® certified EZ Series of tankless water heaters comes equipped with top-mounted, hot- and cold-water connections, a half-inch gas line input, and the option to use a flexible vent piping that can be fed directly through existing B vents.
The best part for installers: There’s an EZ unit available to directly replace virtually any size storage-tank water heater for a quicker, easier installation. The EZTR40, EZTR50 and EZTR75 units replace 40-, 50-, and 75-gallon storage-tank water heaters, respectively.
New Combi Boiler
Noritz’s new EPA ENERGY STAR^® certified NRCB combination boiler has the revolutionary ability to provide simultaneous domestic water and space heating. The NRCB includes the full energy-saving power of a tankless water heater: no tank, no storage, no unnecessary heating of water when you’re not around. At the same time, its boiler heats the home at a 95% AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency).
Since these functions can now be run simultaneously, there is virtually no concern about the space temperature having to decrease to warm up the shower. Your occupants really can have their cake and eat it too.
Commercial Common-Venting
The EPA ENERGY STAR^® certified NCC199CDV condensing tankless water heater is approved for common-venting up to six units in commercial applications. The ability to common-vent drastically reduces the number of required venting terminations, saving installers time and labor.
Up to 24 of these units can be linked together, using the optional Multi-Unit System Controller. The latter offers the most control options on the market, including application functions for recirculation loops and supplemental storage tanks.
Don’t miss out on learning about the latest ways from Noritz to save energy and streamline your water heater installations. Builders and installers will not leave disappointed. Visit our booths!
IBS will take place January 9-11, 2018 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The AHR Expo will take place January 22-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
For more information, please visit https://www.noritz.com/

Noritz to Showcase Latest Innovations at January Trade Shows

Noritz is excited to showcase its latest tankless water heating innovations this month at the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando and the AHR Expo in Chicago. As always, our goals have been to maximize customer comfort while conserving energy and space.

This year, we’ll be at Booth W7583 at IBS and Booth 4983 at AHR. Here are the highlights:

EZ Tankless Water Heating

Designed expressly for the North American market, the EPA ENERGY STAR^® certified EZ Series of tankless water heaters comes equipped with top-mounted, hot- and cold-water connections, a half-inch gas line input, and the option to use a flexible vent piping that can be fed directly through existing B vents.

The best part for installers: There’s an EZ unit available to directly replace virtually any size storage-tank water heater for a quicker, easier installation. The EZTR40, EZTR50 and EZTR75 units replace 40-, 50-, and 75-gallon storage-tank water heaters, respectively.

New Combi Boiler

Noritz’s new EPA ENERGY STAR^® certified NRCB combination boiler has the revolutionary ability to provide simultaneous domestic water and space heating. The NRCB includes the full energy-saving power of a tankless water heater: no tank, no storage, no unnecessary heating of water when you’re not around. At the same time, its boiler heats the home at a 95% AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency).

Since these functions can now be run simultaneously, there is virtually no concern about the space temperature having to decrease to warm up the shower. Your occupants really can have their cake and eat it too.

Commercial Common-Venting

The EPA ENERGY STAR^® certified NCC199CDV condensing tankless water heater is approved for common-venting up to six units in commercial applications. The ability to common-vent drastically reduces the number of required venting terminations, saving installers time and labor.

Up to 24 of these units can be linked together, using the optional Multi-Unit System Controller. The latter offers the most control options on the market, including application functions for recirculation loops and supplemental storage tanks.

Don’t miss out on learning about the latest ways from Noritz to save energy and streamline your water heater installations. Builders and installers will not leave disappointed. Visit our booths!

IBS will take place January 9-11, 2018 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The AHR Expo will take place January 22-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

For more information, please visit https://www.noritz.com/

2017 Model Remodel home includes direct replacement tankless water heater

for ease-of-installation and energy savings.

Each year, the Model Remodel program takes a home in serious need of a makeover and turns it into a modernized, energy-efficient residence. This year, the project was a 1,300-square-foot home in Woodbury, Conn., in which the owner wanted to spend the rest of her life.

Built in the 1930s, the single-level home was completely gutted to add a slew of maintenance-friendly designs and appliances to keep the homeowner’s long-term expenditures affordable and consistent, assuming a fixed income.

Answering the hot water question

One of many decisions that had to be made from an energy-efficiency standpoint involved replacing the home’s 60-gallon storage-tank water heater.

To simply swap it with another storage-tank heater didn’t make any sense in the context of the project’s energy efficiency goals, as it would consume energy all day and night, regardless of hot-water demand.

Instead, Ben Bogie, general contractor at Built to Last Design & Build LLC, immediately identified tankless water heating technology as the preferred solution. “Our firm has been installing predominantly tankless heaters for the past 10 years because they’re great from a cost and stewardship perspective,” he says. “They fire only on-demand to give you hot water exactly when needed, thereby saving energy.”

Replacing a storage-tank water heater with a tankless model has traditionally brought installation challenges beyond draining and hauling out the massive tank. While storage-tank heaters have top-mounted hot and cold water connections, conventional tankless units have those same connections on the bottom. Thus, contractors usually have to add extra plumbing to lengthen the connections, raising material and labor costs.

EZ as Pie

The Model Remodel contractors chose the EZTR75 tankless water heating package, which Noritz donated to the project, for a streamlined installation.

The EZTR75 is a direct replacement option for 60- and 75-gallon storage-tank water heaters because of its top-mount water connections and multiple venting options, which reduce installation costs. The package comes with an EZ111 tankless water heater, a flex vent conversion kit (with 25 feet of 2-inch flex) and an isolation valve kit. Venting can be accomplished using either dual-pipe or single-pipe (made of PVC or CPVC), as well as the included 2-inch Flex, which can be fed through the existing B-Vent. Once again, these venting options save time and material.

“It’s 100 times easier because you’re not piping down to the bottom of the unit to connect the water lines,” says contractor Bob Lucas, owner of Lucas Plumbing LLC. and the installing contractor on the job.

Lucas was able to install the EZ111 in under three hours. For venting, he ran the 2-inch Flex included with the unit up through the existing B-vent. The simple venting and top-mount water connections were major time-savers. The streamlined installation saved an estimated $300-$400.

Overall, Lucas reports no challenges on the installation. “It was really straightforward. I can’t emphasize the importance of those top-mount water connections enough. Other tankless units don’t have them, and are therefore a hassle to install.”

Creating a sustainable future

Since the installation, the unit has been tested and forecasted to earn the homeowner significant energy savings once she moves in, especially when considered in the context of the entire remodel. Other energy-efficient features include low-flow showerheads and faucets and triple-glazed windows. Thus, while the tankless water heater promises substantial energy use reductions by itself, when combined with the rest of the home, it helps create a truly sustainable environment for the long-term future — perfect for someone planning to spend the rest of her life there.

California’s Title 24 No Match for High-Efficiency Noritz Tankless Units

Noritz’s ability to meet and exceed demanding Title 24 energy requirements puts it ahead of the game across the country.

California is one of the most progressive states in the country when it comes to energy standards. Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, known simply as “Title 24,” regulates the construction of both residential and nonresidential buildings in the Golden State. 

Part 6 of Title 24 contains the California Energy Code, which outlines rigorous standards for manufacturers of building appliances to “ensure that building construction, system design and installation achieve energy efficiency and preserve outdoor and indoor environmental quality.”

According to the California Energy Commission (CEC), the latest set of standards, released in 2016, may reduce natural gas consumption by 16 million therms per year and statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 160 thousand metric tons of CO2 per year.

Noritz takes Title 24 very seriously and manufactures both residential and commercial tankless water heaters that not only meet, but also significantly exceed, these stringent standards. Three areas where Noritz shines under Title 24 are: 1) energy factors; 2) compact versatility; and 3) hot-water recirculation.

Energy factors

The CEC defines energy factor as “a measure of overall water heater efficiency.” According to Eric Manzano, an engineer at Noritz, energy factor is calculated by measuring a water heater’s efficiency (how much heat goes in versus how much comes out) through a simulated usage test.

Title 24 sets a minimum energy factor requirement for tankless water heaters of .82 (82 percent efficiency).

All Noritz models exceed this standard, with non-condensing units typically around .85 efficiency and condensing models typically above .90. The new EZ Series of high efficiency, condensing tankless water heaters goes even further—with an energy factor of .97—a feat which has earned it ENERGY STAR® certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Compact versatility

Title 24 also considers potential energy savings gained by efficient installation and design. In the case of water heaters, their location in a home matters, impacting the length of pipe needed between the heater and hot water fixtures. A centrally-located water heater reduces pipe runs and can limit water and energy waste, according to Manzano.

Homeowner Michael Craig of California drives an electric car, uses a “smart thermostat” and is considering installing solar power in his home, all in the name of going green.

His most recent project involved swapping out his energy-guzzling storage tank heater with the ENERGY STAR-certified EZ98-DV high-efficiency, condensing tankless water heater, donated by Noritz.

An EZ Solution For WiFi Tankless Water Heating 

The EZ98’s 0.95 energy factor convinced Michael, owner of Bytelaunch digital marketing agency, that this was a green device he wanted in his home, as it would fire only when needed, instead of continuously, like a storage tank heater.

In addition to yielding energy savings, the EZ98 would bring Michael’s water heating system into the 21st century with its WiFi capability. By downloading the Noritz Connect app, he could take advantage of various remote functions, such as controlling the unit’s temperature and viewing error codes.

The EZ98’s direct-replacement design also streamlined Michael’s installation:

• Unlike traditional tankless models, which offer only bottom-mount water-supply connections, the EZ98 unit’s connections are top-mounted—just like on the storage-tank unit being replaced. This eliminated the need for Michael’s plumber to run additional plumbing lines, saving time and labor on the water connections.
• Venting options are also flexible, ranging from dual- or single-pipe (made of PVC or CPVC), to 2-inch Flex, which can be fed through the existing B-Vent. Michael’s plumber ultimately used the 2-inch Flex.

• The EZ98 has the potential to utilize the same, half-inch gas line as the storage tank water heater it replaces, which was the case for Michael, eliminating the costs of having to upsize.

First Impressions Of The Noritz EZ98
After installation, the EZ98 began heating the 1,800-square-foot home without issue, supplying hot water for three full bathrooms, a laundry room and a kitchen. Michael reports stable water pressure and temperatures with the new unit and never runs out of hot water in the middle of a shower anymore. The wall-hung unit also yields space savings, making moving around the laundry room easier.

Conclusions on Gas Bill Savings From The Noritz EZ98 /p>

Most striking have been Michael’s energy savings. Since the EZ98 fires only on demand, the gas savings began to accrue from Day One. In 2016, with the storage tank heater, Michael’s monthly gas bill totaled an average of $17.19. In 2017, with the tankless water heater in place, the average monthly bill has decreased to $14.14. Estimates Michael, “We are saving an average of 17.7 percent on our monthly gas bill, largely due to the new unit.”

To learn how tankless can benefit you like it did Michael, please visit www.noritz.com