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Tankless Hot Water Heaters, Efficient, Effective, Endless.
Posts tagged exhaust gases
Norits Tankless Water Heater
Mar 22nd
Norits Tankless Hot Water
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We are now starting to install the Norits tankless systems to replace the Navien that we have had some troubles with.
The Norits is a condensing tankless that is able to provide sufficient hot water for the typical 3 bedroom 3 bathroom home.
Nortis Advantages
- 0.5 GPM low flow start up requirement
- Direct ignition
- Condensing so
- Greater than 93% efficient
- Digital thermometer for accuracy
- Dual copper primary heat exchangers
- Multi-system compatibility
- PVC (636) venting capabilities
The Noritz 842 tankless water heater also uses a dual flame in its burner. This is a system that recirculates the exhaust gases back into the combustion chamber to burn off any excess fuel and particulate mater so as to increase efficiency and provide, essentially free heat.
Single Burner
Dual Burner
These energy efficient models use dual heat exchangers to increase efficiency to over 93%. Available form Norits are the N-0842MC and the N-0842MC-DV, the tankless come in either direct or power vent.
Fill out this form and see if the Norits tankless will work in your home. CLICK FOR FORM
Noritz is correctly spelled with a Z instead of an S but its a common mistake.
Navien Problems
Mar 18th
Navien Problems
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Navian was the first to come out with a condensing tankless water heater and thus they are bound to have some issues. This post is aimed at addressing some of these problems.
Issues
- Navien flow sensor issues
- Navien Control board failures
- Navien Heat exchanger cracks
The flow sensor
Early Navian models had flow sensors that would easily corrode and shut the unit down as the buildup would impair operation. There is a temporary fix where you take the two clamps off the sensor, pull it out and blow on it. The fix that Navien has made is to change the sensor over to stainless steel, you can replace the part to prevent this unexpected shut down. Also an additional fix is to install a 5 micron filter in the water inlet right before the Navian.
Navian Control Boards or Motherboards
These do fail relatively frequently and symptoms would be that the unit turns on, then off, then on, and then off repeatedly or possibly, fails with error code 03 (ignition failure). There are a few other issues that the board can cause but the only real solution is to power cycle the unit (un-plug and plug back in) or replace the Navien control board.
Cracking Heat Exchanger
This isn’t near as frequent as the problems listed above but it is an issue none the less. A heat exchanger should be replaced immediately; it’s a breach containment allowing exhaust gases to enter your home. The heat exchanger is under Navian warranty.
More Help
Here is some places and information you can use to find additional help.
Our Service Department – 1-855-696-8265
Navien Technical Help Line – 1-800-519-8794
Navien online trouble shooting – Go HERE
Navien Warranty details – Find out more HERE (should be accurate for Canada and Ontario)
Additional Issues – Read Here
UPDATE – here is a complete list of Navien error codes – Read HERE
If all else fails post a comment and we can try and trouble-shoot any issues here.
Rinnai Concentric Venting
Apr 28th
Rinnai Venting
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Rinnai tankless water heaters use a single tube for their venting, how do they do this? It’s quite a simple process that prevents two holes from being drilled in your wall. As you can see in the picture of the elbow, the vent pipe has two distinct sections. This type of venting piping is called concentric venting. 
The tankless concentric vent pipe handles both the incoming supply air as well as ejecting the toxic exhaust gases. This form of tankless venting can save an extra hole in your wall and thus reduced risk of air leakage.
Concentric venting is really quite expensive as the pipe is made from stainless steel. On average you are looking at about 60 dollars per foot plus installation. This is why it important to position a Rinnai tankless water heater as close as possible to its venting termination point.
Venting a Tankless
Jan 14th
Tankless Venting
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There is a plethora of information regarding tankless systems and which is right for you. This can be an intimidating experience for any consumer, today we are going to deal with venting and choosing the right method for your application. There really is no right or wrong choice it’s that some situations will require different methods and we aim to help you choose the option that best suits your needs.
Use the information below to the best of your ability, but if you have a unique situation send us a quick email or give us a call and we would be more than happy to help out.
Tankless systems require oxygen or air to complete and maintain the combustion process. It is essential for tankless water heaters to precisely monitor and control both the incoming and exhaust gases to achieve peak efficiency. As time goes by natural and environmental occurrences build up reducing a tankless heaters ability to efficiently heat water. Different venting systems have different traits let’s look at some of the different characteristics.
Non Direct Vent Indoor (fan assisted)
- Uses a powered fan to push exhaust gases out of the house
- Pulls the air or oxygen needed from the inside of the house
- Fan powered tankless systems allow for increased flexibility in venting (vertical or horizontal)
Direct Vent Indoor (fan assisted)
- Combustion oxygen is taken from outside the home, eliminating thermal drafting issues inside.
- The Tankless water heater is sealed and doesn’t consume any air form the inside of the house.
- Venting is done with two pipes or a single concentric pipe (a pipe inside another pipe).
- Can be used in locations where appliances may be competing for the same oxygen or in cold climates where air leakage reduces home energy efficiency.
- Vertical or horizontal venting
Outdoor
- This is restricted to warm weather climates only as subzero temperatures significantly reduce efficiency and there is a risk of the unit freezing
- Air for combustion is taken directly from the environment around the unit.
- Improves home energy efficiency as excess heat is thrown off outside and reduced A/C load.
Which Tankless System Is The Most Efficient?
Jan 8th
Tankless Efficiency Ratings
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All current tankless units have different efficiency ratings. They can range anywhere from 60 to an amazing 
98 percent. This can of course come with some positives and Negatives. The highest rated efficiency of a tankless system is called the Navien which is 98% efficient. Since the unit uses the heat so effectively it can actually be vented with plastic pipe as the exhaust gases are at a very low temperatures. This unit is one of the first to utilize a condensing heat exchanger giving the unit its amazing efficiency rating.
It has been approved by CSA and thus can be used and sold in Canada and Ontario, which it has been for more than a year now. Before you settle on this unit there are some negatives of this hot water heater. This system has the highest failure rate of all other systems, motherboards are constantly failing causing no heat situations for customers. There has also been been reported a failure with a rubber gas hose off the valve which needs to be replaced. This in turn could possible remove the Ontario TSSA approval and the Canadian wide CSA stamp. 2009 should be an interesting year for Navien.
Currently the best tankless system is the Rinnai it doesn’t have the greatest efficiency rating but it still stands at 84%. If efficiency was a test and that was your mark you would be bringing home an A and that’s something I wish I received more often.
