Frequently Asked Questions
Q. "What does the term "temperature rise" mean?"
A. Temperature rise is the amount the heater raises the temperature of the incoming water, based on the flow rate shown of that water.
Q. "How does a tankless heater provide hot water without a storage tank?"
A. Tankless water heaters heat on demand. The water is heated as it flows through the unit. Automated valves control water and gas flow so that your water comes out at the temperature you set it to.
Q. "What's the difference between a conventional flue and a direct vent?"
A. A conventional flue is what most people are familiar with. It typically consists of a double-wall flue pipe going from the top of the heater through the roof, venting outside. The fixture draws its combustion air from the space around it (utility room, garage, hallway, etc.). A direct-vent unit vents and draws its combustion air through a specially designed pipe from the outside via an adjacent wall.
Q. "What makes a condensing tankless water heater different?"
A. Noritz condensing water heaters use a dual heat exchanger system to increase efficiency by using the residual heat from the exhaust temperature, which is captured by the first, corrosion-resistant stainless steel heat exchanger, to preheat incoming water before it runs through the main commercial grade copper heat exchanger. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and increases efficiency. This also means vented exhaust is lower in temperature than other tankless water heater designs.
Q. "Can I use PVC to vent this tankless water heater?"
A. The idea of using PVC venting instead of Category III stainless steel venting for condensing tankless water heaters is that it will save money on venting since the exhaust temperatures are specified by the manufacturer as within the capabilities of PVC to handle safely. However, we never recommend PVC for venting. In the real world, gas water heaters are rarely maintained to their ideal, which eventually results in raised exhaust temperatures. These raised exhaust temperatures quickly pass beyond what PVC can safely handle and overheated PVC can release dangerous fumes and even collapse as it fails. For this reason, there is a higher incident of dangerous issues associated with PVC venting on gas tankless water heaters and we cannot, in good conscience, recommend PVC venting for gas water heaters.
Q. "How does the Water Heater Scale Inhibitor System prevent corrosion?"
A. It forms a thin protective layer on the inside of pipes and metal parts. This film or layer is microscopic in thickness and will not build up over time.
Q. "What are the best reasons to install a Scale Inhibitor System?"
A. A Scale Inhibitor System helps protect the system by reducing scale buildup and adding to the longevity and efficiency of the heater.
Q. "This is a water heater. Why would I need a battery backup?"
A. Since this tankless water heater has direct electronic ignition, power is needed to create a spark, as well as run the computer and remote. A battery backup is not required, but may be beneficial if you are in an area where there are frequent power outages as this would help provide power to your Nortiz tankless hot water heater for a short time. When choosing a battery backup, which can be purchased locally, please note it must produce a pure sine wave. Also, battery backups are only for indoor units that are plugged in as opposed to hardwired.
Q. "Will an instantaneous water heater save me money on my utility bills?"
A. In many applications you can see a savings. There are some variables that could reduce the amount you save. One example is you will not run out of hot water, so longer showers could cut into your savings. Also, the cost of electricity, propane and natural gas in your area will affect the amount of money saved. The higher the cost for the energy type used to heat your water, the quicker you can recover the higher initial cost of installing a tankless versus tank style water heater.
Positives:
- You will never run out of hot water. "You want an hour long shower? No problem!"
- Electric units can be installed at the point of use.
- You're not paying energy costs to heat water 24 hours a day.
- Our electric units don't require a T&P valve (no tank!) - if code allows.
- Installing a tankless water heater can indeed be a bonus to the environment. (Why choose wastefulness when we're talking about finite natural resources?)
Negatives:
- They all need a minimum flow rate & pressure to turn on.
- Electric units need heavy gauge wire, while gas units need a much larger, special flue pipe and larger gas supply than a conventional water heater.
- At times they can produce very hot water. It's easier to get scalded - but this is easily mitigated with anti-scald valves.
- With some brands, parts are hard to find (not a negative if you originally purchase from us, as we like to carry parts for the units that we sell).
Summary:
Tankless water heaters have their place. They're not "the answer" to every hot water need, but if they're used correctly they can be the solution to many of them.
