NEWS RELEASE

For more information, please contact:
Yonius Saritoh
Noritz America
(714) 433-7831
ysaritoh@noritz.com

 

Noritz Introduces Eco-Friendly NRC98 Tankless Water Heater, Featuring Higher Efficiency, Easier PVC Venting

NRC98ENERGY STAR-qualified NRC98 offers an Energy Factor of 0.93, plus the ability to create longer vent runs with installer-friendly PVC, instead of stainless steel.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIF. (JULY 7, 2011)— The ENERGY STAR®-rated NRC98, the newest addition to the Noritz ecoTOUGH™ Series of gas-fired residential condensing tankless water heaters, has an Energy Factor of 0.93, a rating that is nearly 10 points higher than that of a comparably sized, conventional tankless unit. The 0.93 EF is also approximately 30 points higher than a standard, tank-type gas-fired water heater.

With a maximum flow rate of 9.8 gallons per minute (gpm) and temperature settings from 100°F to 140°F, the new NRC98 protects the environment by heating water strictly on demand, while offering a longer product life cycle than storage tank-type models. In addition, it promises lower emissions, reduced electrical consumption, smaller amounts of potentially hazardous construction materials, and easier recyclability of those materials and components once the product is removed from service.

Featuring a standard Btu input range of 16,000 to 180,000, the NRC98 Tankless Water Heater is engineered to fully meet the domestic hot water needs of northern residences with two bathrooms and southern homes with three baths. A two-pipe direct vent model for indoor installation, the NRC98-DV, will be available for shipment August 1. An outdoor model, the NRC98-OD, will be available during the fourth quarter of this year.

How does "condensing" water heating technology work?

As with 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 substan-tial energy savings because there is no wasteful reheating of stored water, as with traditional storage-type water heat-ers.

However, in addition to the primary heat exchanger to warm the flow moving through it, a condensing unit incorpo-rates a secondary heat exchanger to ex-tract even more heat from the by-products of the combustion process, as these gases enter the venting at the top of the flue. This secondary heat ex-changer then preheats the incoming cold water on its way to the primary heat exchanger, increasing the unit’s efficiency.

The PVC advantage: By extracting so much additional heat from the flue gases, the condensing process cools them enough to permit venting with PVC or CPVC piping, instead of the more costly Category III Stainless Steel required by conventional tankless units. Many installers have never used Cate-gory III Stainless Steel, says Noritz Vice President of Marketing Jay Hassel.

"But virtually every plumber knows PVC inside and out," he continues. "What’s more, the material requires zero clearance to combustibles. All of which is why, as more and more buyers opt for energy-saving tankless water heaters in their new homes, the path of least resis-tance for builders and their plumbing subs will be to go condensing tankless to vent with PVC."

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Installation flexibility: Condensing technology permits venting with installer-friendly PVC or CPVC piping, instead of Category III Stainless Steel. The less costly, zero clear-ance plastic piping enables longer vent runs – up to 62 linear feet with 3-inch PVC – and therefore greater installation flexibility. A PVC adapter built into the flue of the NRC98-DV speeds the vent connection, and a factory-supplied increaser fitting facilitates the creation of a 4-inch run, if required.

Both of the new NRC98 models also offer the following key features and components:

  • LOWER EMISSIONS: The high-efficiency, low-NOx Eco-Burner™ has a nitrogen-oxide emissions level of 20 parts per million (ppm), which will comply with the new South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulations that go into effect on January 1, 2012. The new regulations apply to any boiler or water heater rated from 75,000 to 400,000 Btu per hour.
  • TRUE TANKLESS EFFICIENCY: The advanced technology of the fully modulating Eco-Burner also delivers superior temperature control, eliminating the need for a buffer tank to stabilize the temperature. This, in turn, removes another potential source of standby heat loss, thus maintaining system efficiency.
  • TWO DURABLE HEAT EXCHANGERS:
    • Primary: The internal waterways of the commercial-grade, primary heat exchanger are 25 percent thicker than Noritz’s residential-grade model. Its copper con-struction offers better heat transfer than stainless steel.
    • Secondary: Made entirely of stainless steel to resist corrosion from fluid produced by the condensing process, the secondary heat exchanger uses a low-pressure-loss design to provide a better showering experience across a wide range of household water pressures.
  • 12-YEAR RECIRCULATION WARRANTY: Like all Noritz residential tankless water heater products that feature the company’s durable, commercial-grade heat exchanger, the NRC98 is covered by a 12-year/6,500-hour warranty when used with controlled recirculation systems that deliver hot water more quickly to the tap.
Eco-friendly commitment: In addition to higher combustion efficiencies and reduced atmospheric pollution, the Noritz ecoTOUGH Series also includes the following green improvements over the previous generation of Noritz tankless water heaters:
    • reduced amounts of hexad chrome in the coating of the exterior and the burner case;
    • reduced amounts of lead in the water-flow servomotor, the lightning protector and the circuit boards;
    • reduced amount of cadmium in the inlet/outlet bracket;
    • reduced consumption of standby electricity by the power transformer.

In addition, Noritz has affixed specific alpha codes to various plastic components within the NRC98 to help identify their material makeup when it is time to recycle the unit. For example, the polystyrene PCB cover is labeled "OS"; the polypropylene neutralizer tank is marked "PP."

"Noritz is committed to investing in eco-friendly technologies and practices that will re-duce the burdens on our environment," says Jay Hassel, Vice President of Marketing for the Noritz America Corporation.

Extending the series: Later this year, according to Hassel, Noritz expects to further ex-tend the ecoTOUGH Series by unveiling a smaller, 160,000 Btu/h unit with a flow rate of 8.3 gpm, again with both direct-vent and outdoor models. Noritz previously introduced the NRC111, with inputs up to 199,000 Btu/h and a flow rate of 11.1 gpm.

"Any contractor or builder currently using power-vent, tank-type water heaters should take a closer look at condensing technology and the advantages it offers," says Hassel, who adds that the price points of these two water-heater types are "very close."

"Our goal at Noritz is to provide a full line of high-efficiency condensing tankless water heaters that will cost-effectively meet the hot-water needs of every American household, regardless of size."

For more information on the new NRC98-DV and NRC98-OD condensing tankless water heaters and other Noritz products, visit www.noritz.com or call 866.766.7489.

For editorial assistance, contact Leanne Newman at Flying Camel Advertising, Design + PR: Telephone – (519) 756-2709; E-mail: leanne@flyingcamel.com

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NORITZ AMERICA CORPORATION, a subsidiary of Noritz Japan, has corporate offices in Fountain Valley, Calif., as well as in Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and Hawthorne, N.Y. Offering a full line of tankless water heaters to meet the hot water demands of residential and commercial applications. Noritz supports its products with a national network of skilled representatives and employees who are committed to providing the finest products and services to our communities by helping consumers live in a more comfortable, efficient and healthy lifestyle.

For more information on Noritz America and the entire line of Noritz's ENERGY STAR® certified tankless water heaters, please call (877) 986-6748 or visit our website at www.Noritz.com

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NRC98

The NRC98-DV, designed to meet the needs of northern residences with two bathrooms and southern homes with three baths.

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