Overview

The concept behind "On Demand" water heaters is simple. Conventional water heaters keep 40 or 80 gallons of water hot 24 hours a day in order that hot water will be available anytime for a shower or sink. My mother, a tea drinker, has had a hot water dispenser on her sink for twenty years. Press the button, out comes bubbling hot water at 180 degrees.

On demand hot water heaters are for the whole house, not a cup of tea, but the principle is the same. Instant hot water as needed, not kept hot 24 hours a day for that moment or two when needed. On demand heaters are either natural gas/LP (p ropane) or electric. Electric units are necessarily small.  Whole house units would require 100 amps plus @240 volts just for a 2 bath water heater. Electric units on larger houses would not be able to keep up with demand.

Rinnai VS. Noritz

We studied both manufacturers and talked to a number of plumbers and homeowners as well as the distributors. Although Rinnai is better known in NH, we've concluded that Noritz, also a Japanese company, has the better product. Not only are the materials better, technical performance is better as well. The minimum flow rate (the lowest flow rate at which the unit will turn on) is 0.5 vs. 0.6 for the Rinnai. This is important if you want a trickle of hot water instead of an open tap. It also saves hot water. Noritz also has high efficiency condensing units (the Model 841 is 93% efficient vs. Rinnai's 84%). Most plumbers we talked to had only worked with Rinnai. Those who had worked with both tended to prefer Noritz. Also, Noritz stainless steel vent piping is standard and widely available while Rinnai's is a proprietary, more expensive solution.

Details you Need to Know

These units are rated at Florida temperatures (45 degree rise on water that is average 70 degrees temp in the ground) and New England temps (75 degree rise on water that is average 40 degrees temp in the ground). It takes more time and more heat to get 40 degree water up to 115 degrees than Florida water at 70 degrees up to 115 degrees.

Units are always advertised at the Florida gallons per minute rating. Thus a 7.5 gallon per minute unit (Florida) is rated at 4.3 gallons per minute in New England. Always use the New England rating. See the Sizing charts below.

• They are vulnerable to hard water. If your water is hard you'll need to plan an annual maintenance using the included isolation valve (Run several gallons of water & vinegar solution through it to descale it using the included isolation valve)..  If very hard, you may want to consider a water softener/filter.
• If your well has low flow or low pressure, you'll have to fix the problem first for effective function.

Savings & Advantages

Payback from 3.5 years vs. on electricity vs. six year paybacks on propane; rates used 10/16/08 of 19.1 cents KWh (NHEC bill divided by total KWh),  and propane at $2.50/gallon, extrapolated from the chart and 2007 rates supplied by Noritz. Or 200 gallons a year for the Noritz and 310 gallons a year for 50 gallon tank heater, for a savings of 110 gallons of propane per year.   The electric 50 gallon hot water heater would use 4952 KWh at 19¢ per KWh, or $461 a year more than the Noritz. This is before application of the tax credits below. But the smaller the household the larger the savings and the quicker the payback.

• Quick Connect - Double water output by connecting two identical heaters with a single cable, beginning with the Model 751.
• Turbo Flow - Unit automatically increases output in summer when incoming water temp is warmer.
• Endless hot water
• 12 year warranty on tank, longer than traditional tank type water heaters.
• $300 tax credit for LP(Propane) units. $300 tax credit plus $300 rebate from National Grid for natural gas units  (N/A to OTEA members)

Disadvantages:

• Takes about 16 seconds to receive hot water from time faucet is  turned on

• Requires minimum flow of 0.5  GPM to activate heat. A "trickle" will not activate hot water.

• Requires  3/4" piping

• "Cold Sandwich". Noritz internal tests against competitors shows best temperature stability. On top of that there is the "cold sandwich". This occurs when the water is shut off for a second or so and then is turned on. It takes 1.5 seconds of flow before a tankless will turn on. This allows 1.5 seconds of unheated water to go into the lines.

Models we Offer (Assumes Standard 2.5GPM showerhead and 105 degree output temp)

• Model 631 Flow at 45 degree temp rise: 6.3 GPM ; @80 degrees 3.6 GPM; 1.9 Showers simultaneously In New England temps. One plumber stated, "One suggestion I would make is that we typically install the NOritz 6.3 GPM unit in the average 2.5 bathroom house and have yet to have a complaint though some have been in for many years."
• Model 751 Flow at 45 degree temp rise: 7.5GPM ; @80 degrees 4.2 GPM 2.2 Showers-  "
• Model 841 Condensing, High Efficiency (93% efficiency) - Flow at 45 degree temp rise: 8.4GPM; @80 degrees 4.6 GPM;  2.5 Showers

What's Included:

• The on demand hot water heater unit
• Matching vent kit. Gas heaters are vented to the side of or through the roof of the  home. The 531 and the 841 have power vents. the 751 has a concentric vent.
• Matching isolation valve. This valve permits purging, cleaning, draining and includes a pressure valve. Far cheaper than having the plumber assemble the separate components.

Sizing:

Important Conditions; Must Read:

ALL SALES ARE FINAL  because we are selling these units at wholesale pricing, there is absolutely no way we can accept returns. Please read the information on this Website, visit www.Noritz.com for more information, particularly sizing, and consult your plumber on the right size unit to order for your home BEFORE you order. Similarly, do not call OTEA with technical question. We do not have the answers. Talk to your plumber or heating person.

Do not call OTEA with technical questions. Call  your plumber. Check out the Noritz Website. Email Noritz with your questions at: http://noritz.com/homeowners/contact_us/general_information   Call Noritz at

Noritz New York Office

12 Skyline Drive
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Phone: 914-345-6555
Fax: 914-345-3288

Pricing:

• Model 531S: $872.32 for the three parts. Recommended for one bathroom

• Model 631S: $999.99 for the three parts. Recommended for 1.9 bathrooms.

• Model 751 MDVC: $1110.00 for the three parts. Recommended for 2.2 bathrooms.

• Model 841 MCDV: $1850.00 for the three parts. Recommended for 2.5 bathrooms plus

• Go To Order Form OR  Look at Noritz Website

Installation - Plumbers offering Discounts & Charges

The average installation cost between $500 and $750.00. (Assumes you already have propane at your home) However, every home is unique and your home may cost less or more. 

• We recommend that you get several bids.
• If your plumber does not have gas certification, contact your propane supplier for a quote on the gas/propane part of the installation.
• The Plumbers listed here have offered discounts to our members. All will travel some distance. Check if they charge travel time. We expect another 3-6 plumbers to sign up over the next seven days. You may use one of these plumbers or use your own plumber. But look these these plumbers estimates. It will give you an idea of what it should cost. All have plumber's licenses. Most have Gas (Propane) certification. If no Gas Certification,  you may use your propane company for the gas fitting. Most of NH is covered, save the Keene area. We'll work on that, Maine and northern Massachusetts.

Alton Bay, NH - C Buffington Plumbing & Heating

Alton Bay - Mahoney's Plumbing & Heating

Barnstead, NH - Whiteman Plumbing

Boscawen, NH - Residential Air Systems

Caanan, NH - T & M's Plumbing & Heating

Center Harbor - Smitty's Plumbing & Heating

Conway, NH - Carl Olson Plumbing

Hampton, NH - Ellis Plumbing

Hooksett, NH - Regency Mechanical

Kensington, NH - SMS P & H Contractors(Pending)

Littleton-Ben Franklin Plumbing

Littleton, NH - J S Mechanical

Manchester, NH - Alan Williams Mechanical

Manchester, NH - Richard Coughlin

Milford- Hatch Plumbing and Heating

New Durham, NH  -  Santoro Plumbing

New Hampton, NH -  Squam Lake Plumbing & Heating