Noritz Tankless Water Heater Install Cost in 2026

The Noritz lineup, by use case rather than model number

Noritz's catalogue is organised around installation scenario rather than capacity tier. Each family solves a different field problem.

EZ-series, the retrofit family

The EZ-series (EZ98-DV-NG, EZ111-DV-NG, EZ111-DV-LP) is the only major tankless line designed from a clean sheet to retrofit into an existing tank-heater vent. The EZ98 delivers 9.8 GPM and the EZ111 delivers 11.1 GPM, both using a Category III stainless flue adapter that mates directly to a standard 4-inch B-vent. Unit cost is $1,600 to $2,400. Installed cost on a retrofit job runs $2,800 to $3,800, which is $400 to $700 cheaper than an equivalent Rinnai or Navien install because the vent work is dramatically reduced.

The key constraint: the existing B-vent has to be in code-compliant condition. If the original vent shows corrosion, undersizing, or improper clearance to combustibles, the EZ-series advantage evaporates because the vent needs replacement anyway.

NRCP-DV series, the integrated-recirculation flagship

The NRCP1112-DV (11.1 GPM, condensing, 0.96 UEF) and NRCP961-DV (9.6 GPM, 0.96 UEF) ship with an internal recirculation pump and a 0.3-gallon buffer tank. Comparable to Navien's NPE-A2 with ComfortFlow. Unit cost is $2,100 to $2,800. Installed cost is $4,100 to $5,200. The 0.3-gallon buffer is smaller than Navien's 0.5-gallon, which means a slightly more noticeable cold-water-sandwich effect when fixtures cycle quickly. In practice, most homeowners do not notice.

NR-series, the commercial-grade light-commercial workhorse

The NR-981 (9.8 GPM) and NR-1112 (11.1 GPM) are positioned for light-commercial use (restaurants, small hotels, multi-family). They share the EZ-series retrofit-friendly vent connection but use a heavier-duty stainless heat exchanger rated for harder duty cycles. Residential installs sometimes spec them for hard-water markets or extreme-demand households (8-bath McMansion with a steam shower and a soaking tub on one line). Unit cost: $2,000 to $2,600. Installed: $3,600 to $4,800.

NRC-series, the basic condensing line

The NRC711-DV (7.1 GPM, 0.94 UEF) is Noritz's smaller-house entry point. Unit cost is $1,300 to $1,700. Installed cost is $2,600 to $3,500. Appropriate for 1.5 to 2-bath houses where higher-GPM units would be oversized.

Itemised installed cost for the EZ111-DV-NG (retrofit scenario)

Retrofit into an existing 4-inch B-vent, like-for-like 3-bath house:

The labour line is the biggest reason Noritz wins on retrofits: where a fresh-vent install on a Rinnai eats 8 to 11 hours, an EZ-series swap into a good-condition B-vent eats 4 to 7. That single difference closes most of the unit-cost-premium gap with Rheem and even beats Rheem on some retrofit jobs.

High-altitude installs (5,400 ft and above)

Most US tankless brands are certified to 5,400 ft elevation. Above that, performance derates (lower BTU output, lower max flow). Noritz units are uniquely certified to 10,200 ft without derating, achieved through a different burner-orifice design and an altitude-aware fan-speed controller. This matters for Denver (5,280 ft, right at the threshold), Aspen (8,000 ft), Salt Lake City (4,300 ft, fine for all brands), Albuquerque (5,300 ft), and Park City (7,000 ft).

For Denver and other 5,000 to 6,000 ft markets, Noritz installs without performance penalty. Rinnai and Rheem require an altitude-adjustment kit ($150 to $250 part, 30 min labour) and still derate by 8% to 12% above 5,400 ft. The Noritz altitude advantage typically saves $300 to $500 over the 20-year lifecycle and avoids the homeowner complaint of "my shower is colder than the spec sheet said".

Ultra-low NOx compliance in CA air districts

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (covering greater Los Angeles, including all of Orange County and most of Riverside and San Bernardino counties) enforces rule 1146.2, which caps NOx emissions from residential water heaters at 14 ng/J. The Bay Area AQMD enforces a similar 20 ng/J cap. In these districts, only certified ultra-low-NOx tankless units can be permitted.

Noritz NRCP1112-DV and EZ111-DV-LP are on the SCAQMD's certified-models list. Rinnai SE+ series qualifies; standard Rinnai RU series does not in those air districts. Navien NPE-S2 and NPE-A2 qualify in their S2-ULN ultra-low-NOx variants. Rheem RTGH-RA series qualifies. The cost premium for ultra-low-NOx versions vs standard-NOx within each brand is $150 to $400 at the unit level.

Within CA, the SoCalGas rebate of $300 to $600 (and the equivalent PG&E rebate in northern CA) is only available for ultra-low-NOx units, which means the upcharge typically nets out positive after rebate.

How the federal 25C credit applies

All Noritz condensing models with UEF ≥ 0.95 qualify for the IRS Section 25C credit at 30% of installed cost, capped at $600 per tax year. That covers the EZ111-DV-NG, EZ111-DV-LP, NRCP1112-DV, NRCP961-DV, and NR-1112. The NRC711-DV at 0.94 UEF is right at the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient threshold; verify the current certification before claiming. The non-condensing NR50 series does not qualify.

Manufacturer certification statements are published on the Noritz partner portal, which your installer should provide on completion. The credit is claimed on IRS Form 5695.

State and utility rebates that stack

Noritz participates in most US utility tankless rebate programs:

• SoCalGas: $300 to $600 on ultra-low-NOx condensing models
• PG&E (northern CA): $300 to $500 on condensing units
• NYSERDA Comfort Home: $700 in NY
• Mass Save: $200 to $750 in MA
• Xcel Energy Colorado: $400 to $500 (combined with the Noritz altitude advantage, this is the strongest stack for Denver-metro installs)

Reliability and 10-year service profile

Noritz heat exchangers are generally considered the most durable in the industry, partly because of their commercial-grade engineering heritage. Field data points to:

• Annual descaling: $80 to $150 plumber, or $5 DIY. Same as competitors.
• Igniter (years 9 to 13). $120 part, $90 labour.
• Flame rod (years 9 to 13). $90 part, $80 labour.
• Pump (years 10 to 15, NRCP only). $260 part, $120 labour.
• Control board (years 13 to 18). $400 to $550 part, $130 labour.

Noritz's parts pipeline is thinner than Rinnai's (fewer dealers, smaller US footprint), so allow 3 to 7 days for parts on non-trivial repairs. The trade-off for the longer-life heat exchanger.

When Noritz is the wrong choice

Three scenarios where Noritz underperforms:

• Fresh-vent install, suburban metro, no special requirements. The EZ-series retrofit advantage does not apply; the dealer-density disadvantage vs Rinnai does. Rinnai or Navien is usually cheaper and faster to service.
• Pure electric tankless market. Noritz does not make residential electric units. Stiebel Eltron, Rheem, or EcoSmart for that segment.
• Tight budget, like-for-like swap. Rheem's RTGH from the Home Depot install package will usually undercut Noritz by $200 to $400 in this scenario.

Bottom line

Noritz is the right pick when the install has a specific complication: retrofit into existing B-vent, install above 5,400 ft elevation, or compliance with CA ultra-low-NOx air-district rules. In those scenarios it routinely beats Rinnai and Navien on installed cost. In the standard suburban replacement scenario without those complications, Rinnai's dealer network or Rheem's price wins more often.