NORITZ BLOG

(BPT) ­ Over the past few years, more and more American families have opted for multigenerational living arrangements. A survey by Generations United found that 26% of American adults live in multigenerational households.

With so many people under one roof, it can be hard to make space for everyone to live their lives without stepping on anyone’s toes, literally and figuratively. Luckily, a new trend may make living with family more feasible and economical: accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)?

ADUs — also known as in­law suites or granny flats — are affordable detached living spaces, usually 600­1,200 square feet, that allow families to live close together. They’re especially useful for supporting aging parents or housing younger adults just starting out in life.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, almost anything can be an ADU with the right setup, such as detached garage­style conversions or those attached to main homes in basements or separate units.

Because ADUs tend to be small compared to other housing alternatives, space is at a premium. ADU owners will need to downsize their possessions to live in one comfortably, especially their appliances.

When you think of household appliances, refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry machines are probably the first things that come to mind. However, one appliance that you can’t live without and that can take up a considerable amount of space is your water heater.

A conventional tank water heater in a residential area can vary in size. Still, even a 1­2 person household needs at least a 30­gallon tank. As you can imagine, a tank that large takes up a considerable amount of space indoors.

You may be able to install a water heater outdoors, but you may not have enough space on your land to do so. Also, if you live in a colder climate, your water heater must work much harder to heat water, driving up your electricity bill.

Tankless water heaters: A space­saving solution

You don’t have to give up space to have hot water in an ADU. A technology that efficiently heats water with minimal space already exists, and it’s the perfect fit for small dwellings.

Unlike traditional water heaters with large tanks, tankless water heaters save valuable square footage in an ADU. They’re typically wall­hung, requiring zero footprint. In milder climates, tankless water heaters can be mounted outside the home on an exterior wall.

How small are tankless water heaters? Noritz sells a unit that is about the size of a carry­on suitcase. The company also offers wall­mounting brackets that provide easy installation and flexibility in placement. Units can slide from left to right, allowing installers to adjust post­installation while freeing up valuable floor space.

A world of benefits

Space isn’t the only thing you’ll save with a tankless water heater. You’ll also save on energy. Conventional tank water heaters store 30­80 gallons of water and continuously heat it, using energy 24/7 year­round. It would be like leaving the stove’s pilot light on all the time to keep it warm for when you decide to cook.

Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, heat water on demand. Because the heater does not store water, it flash heats water on demand. If you’ve ever used a Keurig to make coffee, then you’ve seen flash heating at work. As soon as the demand for hot water stops, the burners turn off, and no more energy is used.

This “on­demand” heating reduces energy consumption by eliminating standby heat loss, resulting in potential energy savings and lower utility bills in the long run. ADU homeowners can save up to 40% on their utility bills over the life of the tankless unit.

Additionally, local gas and utility rebates help offset the upfront cost of tankless water heaters. These rebates are provided by local governments or utility companies to encourage the adoption of energy­efficient appliances like tankless water heaters. Coupled with the potential savings from ondemand heating, these rebates offer significant utility bill reductions for ADU homeowners.

Convenience is another benefit. A tank water heater can run out of hot water, and when it does, you’ll have to wait until the tank refills and reheats. Meanwhile, tankless water heaters provide a continuous hot water supply at the desired temperature, so you’ll never have to worry about running out. No more arguments between family members about using up all the hot water!

When choosing between tank or tankless, you should also consider durability. A typical tank water heater lasts 10­12 years on average. Over time, mineral sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank, decreasing efficiency as it ages. When a key part breaks, you have to replace the entire unit. And if the tank fails, it does so in a dramatic fashion. Nearly three of every four water heaters fail due to a tank bursting or leaking 30 to 80 gallons of rusty water — depending on tank size — in your finished basement, attic or garage.

When you install or replace a tankless water heater, you’re investing in an appliance built to last a quarter of a century. Tankless water heaters are equipped with technology to prevent sediment buildup and corrosion, while their modular parts are easily replaceable, thereby extending the water heater’s life. If you choose a model like one from the Noritz EZ series, you’ll get the industry’s only 25­year warranty. You can rest easy knowing your ADU will have hot water for years to come.

Whether you’re planning on adding an ADU to your home or have an ADU water heater that needs replacing, consider ditching your tank water heater for tankless technology fit for small dwellings. To learn more about installing or replacing a conventional water heater with a tankless version in your ADU, visit .

Available in English or Spanish and designed to deliver tankless knowledge on demand in an easy-to-use format, the new online courses are a free, bite-sized, and information-packed educational opportunity for the professional trades.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA (NOVEMBER 14, 2023) — Noritz America, a leader in tankless water heating systems for over six decades, proudly introduces its newly reinvigorated, bilingual, self-paced training courses through its online Noritz University. The recently updated curriculum replaces the previous slide-and-voiceover presentation with succinct, self-paced video lessons in a modernized format designed to empower professional contractors with the knowledge needed to size, select, install, and maintain Noritz products confidently for their customers.

As part of Noritz’s commitment to ongoing innovation, the new online courses will be available free of charge and on-demand, allowing learners to progress at their own pace, anytime and anywhere. These courses are easily accessible through the Noritz University website from the comfort of a student’s home, workplace, or job site. Historically, the lessons have been available only in English; however, the new online courses will begin to expand Noritz’s Spanish library as part of their continuing emphasis on inclusion.

“At Noritz America, we believe that knowledge is the key to success,” says Noritz Executive Vice President-Sales and Marketing Jason Fleming. “We are introducing our online training courses as a powerful resource for our growing community of tankless water heating professionals.

“Our goal is to democratize access to information and education and equip our community with the skills and confidence they need to use our products effectively,” he continues. “By harnessing the power of online education in a modern video format configured to fit into a working tradesperson’s schedule, Noritz can make valuable training accessible to a wider professional audience than ever before.”

The courses will cover various topics and become an exhaustive guide to proper sizing, selection, and installation techniques, as well as key features and benefits of the Noritz tankless water heater offering. Just as importantly, the modules are typically less than an hour long and segmented into video-based mini-lessons, allowing students to absorb information in short bursts as their schedules permit. Students will explore topics ranging from appropriate sizing techniques to different types of gas burners while concluding their learnings with a quick quiz to aid and confirm knowledge retention. Noritz plans to add new lessons in both English and Latin American Spanish in the near future.

Three courses are currently available:

Residential Level 1 Online Training: Available in English and Spanish, this course provides a solid knowledge base for tankless water heaters while focusing on the Noritz residential line.
Residential Level 2 Online Training: Available in English with a Spanish version soon to come, this course expands on the learnings from Level 1 with a focus on maintenance and troubleshooting tankless water heaters.
Pre-mix vs. Traditional Units: Available only in English at this time, this course compares Noritz pre-mix-style tankless water heaters with water heaters that use conventional gas burner systems.

To learn more about Noritz University’s free online courses, visit our website.

NRCB180 boiler installation for a combination radiant floor heating and domestic hot water application on an Alberta farm secures first-place finish in the annual fan-favorite photo competition.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA — Once again this spring, Noritz America hosted its second annual Installation Bracket, bringing a plethora of tankless water heater installation photo entries from professionals throughout North America — all hoping to be deemed the best install. Top installations were carefully selected by Noritz officials and entered into the brackets.

The chosen entries underwent a series of bracket-style votes by plumbing professionals and the general public until only two installations remained. The Noritz team had the honor of choosing the winner, declaring Canadian contractor Geo-K Plumbing and Heating from Lethbridge, Alberta, the grand prize winner.

Geo-K owner George Konrad began his trade career shortly after graduating from high school at the tender age of 17 as a plumber’s apprentice. He worked for a local plumbing and heating contractor for eight years before joining the maintenance department for a local college. Eighteen years later, he took a leap of faith and, with his wife Jane,  started his own company, in Lethbridge.

Now, as a veteran journeyman plumber, George is experienced in new-build projects, renovations, retrofits, service, and maintenance. "In all of those years of learning and doing, I have had a keen interest in hydronics, and that interest has evolved greatly," he explains.

So in November 2021, when a shop on a cattle farm in southern Alberta needed assistance with an in-floor radiant heating project, Konrad jumped into action. After assisting with the shop's piping layout and system installation, Konrad and the owner chose as their heat source the Noritz NRCB180 Combination Boiler, both for the product’s robust capabilities as well as for the support of the Noritz technical team.

The boiler supports the radiant floor heating system, while also providing domestic hot water (DHW) for a bathroom in the 4,000 square foot building. The first and only combination boiler for residential applications that simultaneously provides both DHW and space heating, the NRCB offers numerous installer- and user-friendly features, including:

• primary and secondary heat exchangers made of 316L austenite stainless steel, which has a higher corrosion resistance than traditional copper heat exchangers.
• a fully modulating premix burner with ultra-low emissions of only 14 parts per million (ppm), significantly under the required 20 ppm.
• a built-in sensor for reading outdoor temperatures, allowing the NRCB to constantly operate at maximum efficiency (95 percent AFUE).

In short, the functionality of this combination boiler made the NRCB an easy choice.

The boiler was installed on an outside wall in the mechanical room, allowing the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe to easily access the outdoors. "In creating the piping layout of the heating system," adds Konrad, “I preferred to use a low loss header to separate the primary side of the boiler from the secondary, water-heating side. That way, neither side influences the other."

Konrad also focused on labeling sections of the boiler, such as the pumps and other devices, allowing the owner to more easily identify the needed parts if service work were required.

The complete installation, which took two days, including connecting the gas and water lines, had four crucial elements, according to Konrad: design, layout, maintenance, and good water quality. Having designed the system with the cattle farm owner and selected the NRCB as the heat source, he believes the project was successfully executed.

"I did go by the facility a few times in recent months just to check things out," says Konrad, “and I will go back again this fall to service the unit, which will keep the boiler and the farm functioning efficiently.

“I can always trust Noritz products for their reliability and quality performance."

The four most popular error codes and how to resolve them

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA — For more than 60 years, Noritz has built an international reputation as a leading innovator, manufacturing reliable, energy-efficient tankless water heating products with superior quality. Still, error codes are inevitable due to a variety of external and internal factors.

In this article, Noritz Application Engineering and Service Training Supervisor Eric Manzano identifies the most common error codes and their causes, while also providing effective solutions to prevent system malfunction.

Error Code 11

Three elements are needed to ignite a tankless water heater: air, spark, and gas. When a tankless water heater ignites, the fan within the heater will also activate. Through the unit’s sight glass window, you should be able to see the ignition spark a flame.

Error Code 11 indicates that one or more of these elements are not present.

Different factors could cause a malfunction, such as no propane in the storage tank, disruption in gas-supply line, problems with airflow, or debris on the ignition plug. Any of these can cause Error Code 11 to appear.

Solution: Verify the unit and the gas supply match, whether natural gas or propane, and verify the value of the gas pressure with a digital gas manometer. This common tool provides a value reading to indicate gas pressure issues accurately.

If a flame is not visible, check the voltage supply to the ignition plug with a multimeter. You have the option to remove the igniter and physically activate it to see if sparks occur.

Error Code 12

Similar to Error Code 11, Error Code 12 indicates a flame-loss problem. The flame has been ignited, but does not stay lit, causing insufficient heat to bring the water to the desired hot water temperature.

With propane installations, the low storage-tank volume will cause flame loss. The heater will work to adjust to the gas pressure in the unit at some sacrifice to overall volume and pressure performance.

But when multiple heating appliances are used simultaneously, such as during the winter months, an undersized gas supply will prevent the water heater from reaching  its maximum performance level. Poor gas pressure supply weakens the flame, so that it cannot meet higher demands of hot water usage

Tankless water heaters favor temperature over volume. The result with this error code? Your water will reach the desired water temperature, but severely decrease the water volume and  pressure to all the hot-water outlets in your home.

Solution: Use a digital gas manometer to obtain an accurate reading of the gas pressure. Call Noritz customer care or technical support to help diagnose and repair this issue.

Error Code 90

Tankless water heaters will make three attempts to reach the desired water temperature. After a third failed attempt, the heater will display Error Code 90, which derives from one of two conditions.

Similar to Error Codes 11 and 12, insufficient external gas pressure will trigger Error Code 90. The second scenario is an internal issue requiring maintenance. The combustion air route of the air intake and exhaust must be inspected, as well as the general cleanliness of the unit.

Solution: Once again, a digital gas manometer will accurately identify the gas pressure within the unit. If the problem is internal, an air compressor is used to clean the unit of dirt and built-up lint debris, cleaning the unit's interior and improving the air quality.

Flow Malfunction

If a hot-water fixture is turned on, but does not trigger the tankless unit to send hot water, the unit may not display an error code.

Why no error code in this situation? Noritz tankless units will meet a hot-water demand as small as 0.5 gallons per minute, the minimum. But hot-water demand is what activates a tankless water heater — including the display of error codes. If the heater does not detect any flow demand, no error code can be displayed.

Solution: There are diagnostic channels to the tankless water heater to monitor flow rate and temperature output remotely. Contact Noritz directly to walk you through keypad navigation to determine the current flow rate and temperature output, and to establish whether the demand from that hot-water fixture is sufficient to turn on the water heater.

Noritz customer service or technical support can help remedy all three error codes, as well as flow-malfunction issues. Noritz customer service and technical support are available Monday through Friday from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm Pacific; Saturday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm PST. Call 1-866-766-7489 (1-866-7-NORITZ).

If you are interested in technical training, Noritz University offers self-paced courses or webinars. Contracting companies interested in additional training can do so online or in person at the Noritz Headquarters facility in Fountain Valley, California.

Local plumbing contractors offered easy accessibility to all Noritz tankless water heaters and parts outside of strict, will-call hours

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA — As the leader in energy savings through superior hot-water delivery, Noritz America recognizes the invaluable role professional plumbing and HVAC contractors play as the face of the company to their residential and commercial customers. The goal is to empower contractors with the most innovative tankless hot water heaters and combination boilers.

With this partnership in mind, Noritz America remains committed to providing contractors ready accessibility to their products. External factors, such as long work hours and traffic delays, often prevent mechanics and technicians from picking up products during normal, daytime will-call hours. Given the demanding nature of their jobs, having product readily available even after hours is a top priority.

Recognizing this importance, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jason Fleming proposed giving contractors full accessibility to Noritz products after normal will-call hours at the company’s Fountain Valley headquarters warehouse — but without requiring the warehouse staff to work extended hours.

This idea triggered the recent implementation of an after-hours pickup program, giving local professionals accessibility to the full Noritz product offering 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Below, Fleming answers questions regarding this innovative new protocol.

Why after-hours pickup?

Question (Q): What influenced the decision to implement after-hours pick-up?

Jason Fleming: Noritz decided to implement this idea to support our contractors. Our will-call hours remain rigid to support the Noritz team within the warehouse. We allow time for our employees to do their work and leave after they complete their shifts.

Factoring in Orange County and Los Angeles traffic, driving distances, and other external factors, contractors may not make it within will-call hours. We wanted to offer contractors peace of mind, knowing they can still pick up product beyond those hours. We’ll make our products available to you based on your schedule.

Q: Is this open to the public or specifically to professional contractors?

Fleming: After hours pickup is available for the first three contractors that place a request. At this time, it is on a ‘first-come, first-serve’ basis.

Q: Is there a specific Noritz employee dedicated to this program?

Fleming: The employees at the warehouse will be actively involved in fulfilling the after-hours requests and ensuring that the products requested are without damage. Our team will inspect items before securing them in the cage.

Q: Can you go into detail on the location of the actual pickup cage?

Fleming: The cage has been installed at our Grace Avenue headquarters in Fountain Valley. We have a gate on the right-hand side when pulling up to the building. The cage is located in front of the gate on the left-hand side.

Q: Can you describe the cage itself?

Fleming: The black cage is fabricated with metal and enclosed on all sides. The front of the cage consists of a mesh wire material, so that the contents are easily visible. There are two medium-sized bins as well as a large bin. A master lock secures the cage and requires a code to unlock.

Question: Is this specifically for parts or any item?

Fleming: The largest bin in the cage can fit our largest water heater, so the cage has the capacity for any type of purchase.

How does it work?

Q: What is the procedure for setting up and completing an after-hour pick-up?

Fleming: Here’s the step-by-step process for pick-up:

1. The contractor calls the Noritz sales administrative staff at 866-766-7489, option 3 to request an after-hours pickup.

2. The contractor is then assigned a locker and pickup time and must download the Master Lock Vault app on their device. The contractor must then arrive at their designated time, or they will no longer have access to the cage.

3. When the contractor arrives at their designating time, the lock will be activated. Access will be sent via email or cell phone from noreply@masterlockvault.com with an organization ID and temporary password. The organization is NoritzAmerica.

4. The contractor then opens the app and will be asked to set up a new password and agree to the terms and conditions. Match the designated lock number to the cage and on the lock and verify accordingly.

5. Push the center button on the lock, and the light should turn blue. The key symbol will appear on your device’s screen. Push the key symbol to unlock the lock. Sign and date the picklist and leave it in the case. Ensure the lock is activated before you walk away with the product!

Q: What happens if the contractor comes across issues with the app?

Fleming: We have the ability to assist the contractor over the phone by walking them through the process. Contractors can contact Aris at 949-468-8795 or Justin at 714-948-6722.

Q: What is the time frame for pickup after the request is placed?

Fleming: The item can be picked up any time after close of business until the following day. If not picked up the space will be cleared for another customer.

Q: Is this something Noritz may implement at other locations?

Fleming: We just installed the cages recently, so if we see Southern California contractors using after hours pickup often enough, it would be a great option to offer at our other locations as well.

"Noritz releases new and improved, hard-water treatment product to increase efficiency and longevity of tankless water heaters".

The adage, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” has a loophole that puts Noritz and its customers well ahead of the game. As the leader in energy savings and superior hot-water delivery, Noritz recommends a new philosophy: “If it works, let’s make it even better.”

With the new Scale Shield, Noritz did just that.

What is Scale Shield? The new Noritz Scale Shield (SS-HB-3) offers an alternative method to treating hard water entering a tankless water heater for heating. Not only does it prevent the buildup of hard water minerals, but it will also lessen the maintenance workload for a homeowner and reduce the footprint inside the home by eliminating the need for a water softener.

To prevent limescale from forming in the water heater from calcium suspended in the incoming water, Scale Shield uses a polyphosphate material for sequestration of the calcium before it enters the heater. Installed in the water heater’s water-supply line, Scale Shield renders the calcium harmless, sending it down a household drain.

What is hard water? The groundwater in certain regions of the United States — especially in the southern sections of the country, but also the Middle West — contains an abundance of dissolved calcium and magnesium. When a water heater heats this “hard” water, the dissolved calcium and magnesium comes out of the liquid in the form of a chalky material. The chalk coats pipes, fixtures and fittings, creating an insulating layer that can undermine the efficiency of the water heater and the performance of the entire plumbing system.

If this buildup becomes excessive, the water heater may overheat, as it struggles to raise the temperature of the water through the limescale. The inevitable result: bigger fuel bills, reduced water heater longevity, and higher equipment and maintenance costs for the homeowner.

The traditional method of combating hard water is to treat it with a water softener. The problem is, these appliances take up a substantial amount of space in the home. Softeners also add to maintenance chores, because the salt supply inside must be routinely replenished. Also, this salt and its residue eventually find their way down a household drain, causing damage to the environment.

The original Noritz Scale Shield offered superior limescale prevention and corrosion control within the water heater and the overall plumbing system. It’s successor incorporates a number of important upgrades and innovations that provide even more effective treatment of hard water:

SEDIMENT FILTER

Built into the new Scale Shield is a sediment filter that removes particulate matter from the water. This 5-micron filter sifts through the debris, while introducing the polyphosphate additive to the water. This additive coats the calcium particulates, preventing them from releasing out of the water when heated; instead, they go harmlessly down the drain.

CARTRIDGE GAUGE

Two pressure gauges allow the homeowner to manually check pressure levels. As the particulate matter and debris collect within the filter, the buildup causes water-pressure loss in the house, indicating that a replacement filter is needed. To replace the filter, the homeowner simply unscrews the housing, removes the old cartridge, and replaces it with a new one.

EFFICIENT MATERIAL FOR WATER TREATMENT

The new Scale Shield also uses a different treatment medium than its predecessor. A powdery substance replaces the original’s bead-like material, increasing the efficiency of water treatment and reducing corrosion caused by chlorides, silica and dissolved iron. Although Noritz recommends a 12-month replacement timeframe at 15-grain hard water or less, the increase in media size offers a slightly extended lifespan for the product.

COMPATIBILITY AND CONNECTIONS

The new Scale Shield is compatible with all Noritz residential tankless water heaters and combination-boiler models. It contains a 0.75-inch stainless NPT inlet and outlet connections and, as previously noted, connects the cold water-supply line to the tankless water heater.

COST BENEFITS

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the updated Scale Shield will be roughly the same as that of the original unit. Meanwhile, homeowners will reap cost-savings through lower maintenance costs and a reduced need to periodically descale their Noritz tankless water heaters — even in locales with seriously hard water.

In addition, by reducing limescale, the new Scale Shield inevitably boosts the longevity of the unit, while also minimizing scale buildup in other plumbing fixtures and fittings, thus lowering cleaning and other maintenance expenses.

“Installing Scale Shield is a significantly smaller cost burden than replacing your water heater’s stainless-steel heat exchanger due to excessive scale buildup,” explains Noritz lead engineer Randall Oshiro. “All of these cost and time savings, without a doubt, greatly enhance the value of the homeowner’s tankless water heater investment.”

Now available through Noritz plumbing wholesaler-distributors or on their parts and support website, the product will be sold in a kit (SS-HB-3) that includes a wall bracket, wrench, lubrikit, and pressure gauge.

The kit also includes one HBC-3 cartridge, and individual cartridge replacements will be sold through the website. The kit also has a 12-month warranty for parts only.

On-control for your NRCR Residential Condensing Tankless Water Heater at the touch of button with Noritz’s new, innovative technology

It’s no secret that Noritz’s NRCR Residential Condensing Tankless Water Heater — with its built-in recirculation pump — can provide hot water at the shower or the tap almost instantaneously, whenever you need it. Regardless of your home’s current piping setup, this tankless model can be a simple solution to the need for hot water on demand by recirculating warm water throughout your plumbing system.

While the NRCR is already a convenience for home owners by always keeping hot water ready and available, you can now access that hot water through the newest Noritz addition to the NRCR accessory line: the Wireless On-Demand Push Button Kit.

Introduced this spring, the push button kit accessory is sold separately, but is compatible with NRCR models. Offering instant, endless hot water at the touch of a button, the kit includes a wireless receiver and two wireless transmitters to start and stop the NRCR on-demand recirculation mode.

In short, the kit is an easy and clean method to convert the NRCR to a push button operation. Customers are not required to use this specific kit, but other kits on the market would involve either (1) wiring the transmitters to the unit (the push buttons that are currently available, for example); or (2) building a piecemeal kit using items purchased elsewhere. The Noritz Wireless On-Demand Push Button Kit, on the other hand, offers maximum convenience and flexibility, using either batteries or a wall plug-in (via USB connectivity).

The included receiver and transmitters make the kit easy to install and use. The receiver is wired to the water heater itself, so that whenever the transmitter button is pressed, the pump immediately activates. Whether paired with a crossover valve kit or a conventional return line, the pump will then provide water to prime the line.

The receiver and transmitters replace the previous method of a time- or temperature-based schedule for water heater activation. By offering greater user control, the technology reduces system runtime, saving even more energy.

In addition, the push button kit accessory is Title 24-compliant, offering West Coast customers the ability to have hot water on demand while meeting building code requirements and saving energy.

The Wireless On-Demand Push Button Kit reflects the Noritz “EZ” philosophy. Our mission is to make customer experience easier and more convenient, while also providing superior comfort. The kit is the latest innovation to fulfill that commitment.

Interested in learning more about the Wireless On-Demand Push Button Kit? Reach out to an expert at Noritz today!

The second tankless water heater installation on the 4th Street Market roof in Santa Ana, CA, proves a fan-favorite in Noritz’s annual bracket-style tournament promotion.

Earlier in 2021, while college basketball enthusiasts remained enthralled with NCAA's March Madness tournament, Noritz devised an in-house championship to bring a similar hype to the industry. Using professional installations completed by various plumbing companies throughout the United States and Canada, the leader in tankless water heaters invented an exciting bracket-style competition of its own: an Install Bracket.

Professionals entered their best Noritz installation photo that involved any Noritz model of their choosing. The top installations were selected and entered into a bracket for voting. The public had the opportunity to vote on their favorite installations. Voting continued until two final installations remained. Noritz declared the best installation as the winner, and in this case, Crandall's Plumbing's 4th Street Market residential project in Santa Ana, CA, came out victorious.

Crandall's Plumbing, owned and operated by Sam and Erica Crandall, began servicing the Orange County, CA, area in 2009. Since then, the husband and wife duo has grown the company to 40 employees, expanding their service area to surrounding areas, including Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire. 

"We have built loyal relationships with our existing customers," Sam Crandall explains, "As they acquire new properties and expand, they reach out to us, and I take care of my clients, regardless of location."

JOB WELL DONE LEADS TO SECOND INSTALL

Crandall's Plumbing is no stranger to projects at the 4th Street Market. In 2015, the company completed a large and innovative installation for this cutting-edge food emporium. It involved locating a rack of 22 tankless water heaters on the structure's roof to provide domestic hot water to 22 separate, independent food-service tenants. The system allows tracking of fuel consumption usage by each tenant, so that utility billing can be kept separate as well. 

According to Noritz District Sales Manager Gary Hernando, selecting Crandall's Plumbing for the second installation was a no-brainer. "The clients at 4th Street were really happy with both the tankless performance and the subsequent service work that Crandall's has done," says Hernando. “Sam’s company then parlayed those successes into the installations for the actual living spaces."

This second, more recent project for the 4th Street Market involved 24 additional tankless water heaters, Model No. NNC199ODNG2, to be installed on the roof that will feed into 24 residential units. With the success of the initial installation for the vendor units with no major issues after five years, the client's engineer was confident in pursuing Noritz for another round of installs for the residences. 

COMMUNICATION + COORDINATION = SUCCESS

The challenge for Crandall's Plumbing lay in coordinating all the piping with the electrician and HVAC installer. The goal was to have all the piping fit on the rack and flow down through the main corridors of the second floor, where the residences are located. From the main corridors, the piping branches off to each residential unit. The building itself was in the shape of a rectangle with 12 units on each side. 

Crandall and his team focused on visualizing the installation before work began and then coordinated with the other trades, while prioritizing the rooftop installation of the tankless water heaters. The team started from the bottom of the rack and worked their way up with 24 hot lines, 24 cold lines, and 24 gas lines.

Another challenge they faced was that some units had more piping than others among the three racks. Crandall and his team resolved the issue through trial and error by cutting pipe for each unit. 

ATTENTION TO DETAIL VITAL TO COMPLETION

Crandall takes pride in his design-build approach to his projects. "Nothing is slapped together," explains Crandall. "If it doesn't look good, we cut it out and remake it, so it becomes a functional and efficient piece of art." 

After two months of creating his masterpiece, the 4th Street Market residential project was completed.

Crandall's Plumbing proves that efficiency, reliability, and attention to detail not only deserve the notoriety as a fan-favorite, but also help establish long-standing relationships as a full-service plumbing, heating and ac company. Those relationships ultimately resulted in a first-place finish for Crandall’s — both with its client and with Noritz's 2021 Install Bracket.

The updated Noritz website offers increased convenience and accessibility to vital information for professionals and homeowners.

Ready to have full access to Noritz offerings and information? The upgraded Support & Parts Website from Noritz America has everything you need for your residential and commercial projects, with all the information readily available at any time.

Quick search for parts

For fast information on a product, simply begin to enter a model or a part number. If you are unsure of the full number, the built-in suggested search will assist with filling in the blanks.

Still unsure which part is needed for your tankless water heater? Once the results appear, you can easily sift through 1,500 different Noritz parts available for order. Selecting a specific part will also provide ready access to other vital information, such as “technical literature,” “tankless diagram,” and “technical specs.” These options will help viewers fully understand a water heater’s schematics, as well as its location and role in a tankless water heating system.

Saving time with online purchasing

Before the new Support and Parts website, Noritz tankless water heater parts had to be purchased by phone. But the days of remaining on-hold and waiting to speak to the correct representative are long gone.

With the improved website, U.S. homeowners and contractors can now easily order Noritz parts through their smartphones. After finding the best solution, simply select how many units you would like to purchase and hit “BUY” to add them to your cart. If a part has been discontinued, the new site will inform you and suggest a replacement.

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● Technical documents: Click this button to find accessible support documents and warranty information.

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The new Noritz Parts and Support website is yet another expression of the Noritz “EZ” philosophy and mission to always make the customer experience easier and more convenient. Check out the new Support and Parts site today!

During early February, certain parts of the country suffered an unprecedented deep freeze — weather that has never been seen before in much of the South. In Texas, the extreme conditions caused state-wide emergencies, such as icy roads, blackouts, water outages, and boil-water orders. Many homes and buildings were ill-equipped to handle the icy temperatures. As a result, local plumbers have been working overtime to get systems back in order.

Tankless water heaters are no exception to the list of systems that can be severely impacted by the cold. Fortunately, there are precautions that you can take to mitigate, if not eliminate, the problems.

Winterizing your tankless water heater can help minimize adverse reactions if and when Mother Nature strikes again.

Water heater placement

Because of times like these, tankless water heaters should be installed in a warm place, especially if the area is prone to extreme winter weather. A heated space such as a garage or basement can help prevent any freezing from occurring.

What if indoor placement is not possible? Ideally, install units on an indoor wall by positioning your outdoor water heater on the walls alongside a heated indoor space rather than facing open air. This can help decrease the likelihood of freezing. Noritz’s tankless water heater manual specifies the air temperature around indoor units should not drop below 32F, and there should not be a negative pressure in the room.

Another option is to utilize vent terminations. A proper vent termination kit will provide a barrier against winds and can minimize potential wind chill entering, and ultimately freezing, the unit. When applying, locate the venting systems away from incoming wind chills. Explore our tankless water heater venting accessories here.

Heat tape

Insulation can offer an added layer of protection for your tankless water heater as well as your plumbing pipes which are extremely susceptible to freezing during frigid temperatures. Fiberglass and heat tape are both excellent options.

Heat tape specifically comes in many different types and materials, so you are able to find the best suited for your winterizing needs. Applying the tape on pipes connected to the water heater can ensure the water being carried to and from your unit does not freeze. Keep in mind though, while heat tape is great for protecting other water pipes outside of the unit, it also only works when there is power.

Battery backup

As mentioned above, maintaining a consistent power source will come in handy when freeze protection is needed. But what about when homes and businesses lose power, as happened with disastrous consequences in Texas?

Having a battery backup on hand is vital, especially if your area is prone to power outages. When temperatures are near dangerously cold, the system will begin operating (whether your tankless unit is on or not) and provide warmth to vital parts of your water heater.

Some tankless water heaters offer freeze-protection capabilities, such as Noritz tankless units fitted with built-in electric heaters. With these heaters, placing your system near a power source makes it easy to keep it plugged in, so that the freeze protection will kick in if necessary.  Battery backups allow the unit to run the freeze prevention for a limited amount of time (20 minutes to an hour, depending on size of battery backup).

If frequent power outages of only a few minutes are common, then a battery backup makes sense. Otherwise, longer power outages of hours or days should be addressed with a gas generator which has the added benefit of allowing the use of other electronic devices during that time. A gas generator would keep the tankless powered up as well as any heat trace installed on the plumbing.

Drain water ahead of the freeze

Even the smallest puddle of excess water residing in your tankless system can freeze. Ice inside the unit can damage internal components, most commonly the ones made of plastic. Standing water needs to be drained ahead of inclement weather as a precautionary measure.

By using the hot- and cold-water line valves, the water can be isolated to the water heater itself. The ability to do this depends if the unit was installed with water shut-off valves underneath it or not. When in doubt, refer to your Noritz tankless water heater owner’s manual for additional freeze prevention steps including draining the unit.

Installing solenoid valves can make draining water even easier. The valves have an extremely quick response time and will self-drain internal water when the power source shuts off. Again, if power outages are common where you live, installing solenoid valves is a good option to consider.

If you need assistance with your tankless water heater or preparing for winter weather, please contact the Noritz technical department here.