Noritz has made water heaters in Japan since 1951, and its tankless units often take the place of an old storage tank. In Tiburon, Belvedere and Mill Valley we repair and flush Noritz units and install new ones, as an independent company not affiliated with Noritz. You get the price before any work begins.
EZ, NRC and NRCP
- EZ Series. Built as a replacement for a tank water heater. In many homes it can reuse the existing half-inch gas line, once gas pressure and pipe sizing check out, and run flexible vent tubing through the old vent path, which keeps a tank swap simpler.
- NRC Series. Condensing units that recover extra heat from the exhaust. They produce acidic condensate, so they need a drain and a neutralizer, and they vent through plastic pipe rather than a metal flue.
- NRCP Series. Condensing units with a recirculation pump built in. With a return line they keep the hot-water pipes warm; without one, they can keep the water inside the unit warm to shorten the wait.
Noritz also builds commercial units, and many of its models use low-NOx burners to cut nitrogen-oxide emissions. When we replace a gas water heater, we confirm the new unit meets local air-quality requirements.
Swapping a tank for a Noritz
A tankless heater fires much harder than a tank while hot water runs, so the questions are practical:
- Gas supply. Can the meter and piping feed the unit’s input along with the furnace, range and any fireplace? We measure pressure with the unit at full fire rather than guessing.
- Venting. Where can the vent run and end, at proper clearances from windows and doors?
- Condensate. For condensing models, is there a drain nearby, or is a pump needed?
- Power and water. Tankless units need an electrical outlet, and isolation valves for future flushing.
On large homes with bathrooms far from the heater, we also look at recirculation before the install, because it is easier to plan than to add later.
Yearly flush and upkeep
Scale is the main enemy of any tankless heater. Signs include temperature swings, lower flow at the taps, a rumbling unit or a scale-related error code. Once a year is a sensible flushing interval for most homes: we close the isolation valves, circulate a descaling solution through the heat exchanger, rinse it, clean the inlet filter, and check the vent, the condensate line and the ignition. A unit without isolation valves is hard to service, so we add them when they are missing.
Recirculation and the long wait upstairs
In a multi-level house, the far bathroom can take a long time to get hot water. Recirculation fixes the wait but uses gas and pump power, so we set it on a schedule or on demand rather than running it all day. On NRCP units the pump is built in; on other models a pump or kit can be added.
Common Noritz problems
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| No hot water, error on the remote | Ignition, gas supply or venting fault |
| Hot, then cold, then hot | Scale, flow too low to keep the burner on, or recirculation settings |
| Low pressure at hot taps only | Clogged inlet filter or scaled heat exchanger |
| Water dripping from the unit | Condensate line, relief valve or a fitting |
Our repairs carry a 90-day warranty, parts carry the manufacturer’s warranty, and no hot water in a busy house can go to our 24/7 emergency service. A yearly flush fits into HVAC maintenance. To book, contact us.
Noritz by town: Tiburon, Belvedere, Mill Valley. If your heater is a Navien, see our Navien page.