"I have one of the base Noritz tankless model, 631S series for about a year and a half now and I'm very satisfied with the unit. I have seen my gas bill drop close to 50% and have not had any problems. Just to be safe my son and I flushed the unit after a year since we have hard water in our area. I think its a great way to go as an investment, especially to help protect myself from future energy price increases. I'm expecting many years of hot water service and money savings from my tankless." ~ConsumerReports.org reader Shiro Nakagawa

Noritz tankless water heaters is one of the most trusted brands in the tankless water heater industry. Like Takagi, Noritz is a Japanese company that has been manufacturing tankless water heaters for more than fifty years. Starting in 2002, Noritz established the Noritz American Corporation in California. Noritz also has holdings in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzen, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Melbourne, and Dusseldorf, making them a truly worldwide producer of tankless water heaters. The first tankless water heater producer to receive certification for its products by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Noritz has good reason to lay claim to the title of “best in the industry”. Of course, whether or not Noritz really is the best or not may be a matter of opinion, but its likely that most experts on tankless water heaters would at least agree that Noritz is one of the best.

Why Noritz Claims to be No. 1

* Dual flame burner technology: The majority of gas-powered tankless water heaters utilize a single flame burner technology. In its most recent models, however, Noritz has introduced a second row of burners, designed to burn any gases escaped from the first row. This dual flame technology increases the level of the water heater's efficiency, reduces temperature fluctuations, and boosts the flow rate performance.

* Impressive heat exchanger: When a tankless water heater dies, the first component to go is usually the heat exchanger. Absorbing most of the stress of the unit, cracks and leaks develop over time due to the extremely high temperatures. Most of Noritz's recent models utilize copper piping that's 25% thicker than the piping used in older models and in units manufactured by other brands. According to Noritz, the thicker piping leads to a much longer life span for the heat exchanger.

* Higher energy efficiency rating: The newest Noritz tankless heaters use a dual heat exchanger with both copper and stainless steel. The stainless steel is designed to capture residual heat from the exhaust, thus preheating incoming water before it even enters the main copper heat exchanger. This new technology gives the Noritz NRC111 and NCC199 series an energy efficiency level of more than 93% -- one of the highest energy efficiency ratings available from gas-powered tankless water heaters.

* No outsourcing: Much like Takagi, Noritz does not outsource any of its manufacturing. Instead, the Noritz company itself manufactures nearly everything that goes into its tankless water heaters, allowing a higher level of quality control. In fact, Noritz even makes the heat exchanger's copper tubing from raw copper. Using Toyota's innovative Just-In-Time production system, Noritz is capable of shipping tankless heaters in the afternoon that were manufactured earlier that morning.

In summary, Noritz is a solid, quality brand. If you are considering purchasing a tankless water heater, Noritz should be on your short-list of brands to consider.

Noritz Tankless Water Heater Deals on Ebay:

Noritz NR66 (N-0531S)

For people who live in small homes, apartments, or condominiums, or who live by themselves or with only one other person, the Noritz NR66 (N-0531S) Series of residential tankless water heaters is a perfect option. Noritz has several larger models of tankless water heaters available, but these “Cadillac” water heaters are unnecessarily large for small homes and apartments.

Just because the NR66 is smaller than Noritz's larger, flagship models, don't think that Noritz cut any corners on quality. The NR66 still has the same Energy Star label on it, and it has many of the same features that make the Noritz brand so reliable.

Some of these features include:

• A confidence-building 12 year warranty, plus 5 year warranty on parts, and 1 year warranty on labor.
• A resin-coated PC board that increases the unit's durability as well as protecting it from the elements.
• An automatic air regulator that monitors the unit's internal temperature and maximizes burner efficiency.
• A high performance single flame burner (NR98 and NR111 models include a dual flame burner).
• Robust safety features, including a safety lockout that sets a default maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and a thermal fuse that protects against overheating.
• A self-diagnostic onboard computer system, making repair calls obsolete, along with compatibility for an additional back-up battery.

The two available models in the NR66 line are the NR66-SV and the NR66-OD. The SV model is an indoor/outdoor model, while the NR66-OD can only be installed outdoors. The OD model has a slightly higher Energy Factor in the natural gas version, but both models have an Energy Factor of 0.84 in the propane version.

The NR66 is small but mighty. With Energy Factors ranging from 0.82 to 0.84 (in the propane versions), the NR66 is just as energy efficient as the larger Noritz tankless water heater series. Providing up to 5.3 gallons per minute of hot water, the NR66 can provide enough hot water for two or more showers when the outside temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, and enough hot water for one or more simultaneous showers when the outside temperature drops to 45 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

Noritz NR66 (N-0531S) Tankless Water Heater Deals on Ebay:

Noritz NR71 (N-0631S)

Providing 6.3 gallons of hot water per minute, the Noritz NR71 (N-0631S) Series of tankless water heaters is the best choice for homes with one to three showers. Similar to other Noritz models, the NR71 is built with state-of-the-art combustion technology, which means an endless supply of hot water with lower energy costs. In fact, the NR71, like most Noritz tankless water heaters, comes with the government Energy Star label.

There are two different models in the NR71 series, the NR71-SV and the NR71-OD. The SV model can be installed inside or outside the home, and has an Energy Factor of 0.83 in both the natural gas and propane versions (the higher the Energy Factor, the more energy efficient the water heater is). The NR71-OD model is for outdoor installation only, and has an Energy Factor of 0.82 in the natural gas version and 0.83 in the propane version. Both models come with the standard Noritz warranty – 12 years, 5 years parts, and 1 year labor. Both also have twelve temperature settings, ranging from 100 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, both models will save you money not only on your energy bill, but also on your taxes: installing a Noritz NR71 tankless water heater entitles the owner to (up to) $1,500 in tax credits for 2009 and 2010.

During the summer, when temperatures outside are 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, you can expect your NR71 to provide plenty of hot water for three simultaneous showers. During the winter months, when temperatures outside are 45 degrees or lower, expect plenty of hot water for two simultaneous showers.

This nearly endless supply of hot water is made possible by the NR71's high performance single flame burner, its resin-coated PC board (increases durability and insulates the unit from the elements), and the automatic air regulator (maximizes burner efficiency). If you're considering purchasing a tankless hot water heater, the NR71 is an excellent value for average-sized homes.

Noritz NR71 (N-0631S) Tankless Water Heater Deals on Ebay:

When it comes to choosing a tankless water heater for your home, your first task is to assess your hot water needs. For larger homes, the Noritz NR111 or the NR98 series is the best choice.

Noritz's most popular tankless water heater is the NR98 (N-0751M) Series for residential homes. The NR98 tankless water heater series is slightly smaller than the NR111, providing 7.5 gallons of hot water per minute as opposed to the 8.4 gallons of hot water per minute provided by the NR111 series. However, the NR98 can still comfortably accommodate homes with three showers. Like the NR111, the NR98's copper piping is 25% thicker than the piping of leading competitors, minimizing a loss of heat.

There are three models in the NR98 series:

• NR98-OD: When you opt for the propane version of this model (as opposed to the natural gas version), the Energy Factor is 0.86 – the most energy efficient of all the NR98 water heaters. The “OD” stands for outdoor, meaning that the unit is installed outside. This model and all the Noritz NR98 models come with a 12 year, 5 year parts, 1 year labor warranty.
• NR98-DVC: The DVC model is the newest model in the NR98 series. Installed inside the home, its pipe uses only outdoor air, and expunges exhaust air back outside, thus not affecting the air quality inside the home at all. The DVC has an Energy Factor of 0.82 in the natural gas version, and 0.84 in the propane version.
• NR98-DV: The DV is another inside model. Its energy factor is 0.83 in the natural gas version, and 0.82 in the propane version.
• NR98-SV: The SV can be installed inside or outside the home. Its energy factor is 0.83 in both the natural gas and the propane versions.

All models in the NR98 series come with the comforting government Energy Star, which indicates that the tankless water heaters are energy efficient. In general, all tankless water heaters are better for the environment (and your energy bill) because they require less energy to heat your home's water than a traditional tank water heater.

Noritz NR98 Tankless Water Heater Deals on Ebay:

Noritz NR111 (N-0931M) Series Residential

How does endless hot water for four or more showers in your home sound? It doesn't matter who showers first, when they shower, or how long they shower for. Neither will it matter if the dishwasher or the washing machine runs at the same time. When you have a gas-powered tankless water heater, you save energy, save money, and have all the hot water you could ever want.

For larger homes or bigger families, the Noritz NR111 (N-0931M) Series is the right choice to make. To accommodate a higher demand for hot water, the NR111 series has a dual flame burner, a state-of-the-art heat exchanger, plus thick copper piping. Compared to other tankless water heaters, the Noritz NR111's copper piping is 25% thicker. In addition, the NR111 comes standard with freeze protection, high-elevation adjustment, and an automatic safety lock-out.

Unlike other Noritz models, the NR111 (N-0931M) Series doesn't come with that comforting Energy Star to ensure consumers that this tankless water heater is a green product. However, as Noritz explains on their website, the US Department of Energy considers any water heater in the 200,000 BTU/hour range or higher to be a commercial water heater. Because commercial water heaters are not considered residential products, they are not allowed an energy star. Rest assured – and especially for large homes that use a lot of hot water – the Noritz NR111 is still far more energy efficient than a traditional water heater.

Additional Benefits of the NR111 (N-0931M) Series:

• Noritz standard venting allows the water heater to be installed inside or outside, with venting either horizontal or vertical.
• DV (“direct vent”) units are specifically designed for indoor units and are equipped with air filters that make them perfect for laundromats, restaurants, or salons.
• Temperature settings have fourteen options, and range from a maximum of 100 degrees to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A digital remote comes standard.
• Each tankless water heater in the series includes a self-diagnostic on board computer system.

Noritz NR111 (N-0931M) Series Tankless Water Heater Deals on Ebay: