Noritz

Tyler Rygh (far right) of All Coast Plumbing & Rooter accepts $10,000 grand prize in Noritz’s Retrofit Rewards promotion from Noritz SoCal Territory manager Dylan Stieler (far left), as sales specialists Robert Espadas (center, left) and Adolfo Sandoval of Hirsch Pipe & Supply look on. (Photo courtesy Noritz America).

Tyler K. Pugh of All Coast Plumbing & Rooter (Tujunga, Calif.) is the winner of the $10,000 grand prize in Noritz America’s recently concluded Retrofit Rewards sweepstakes promotion for plumbing and HVAC contractors in the United States and Canada. Pugh received the winning Scratch & Win Card after purchasing a Noritz NRCR Residential Condensing Tankless Water from wholesaler-distributor Hirsch Pipe & Supply at its branch operation in Santa Clarita, Calif.

Tyler Pugh owns All Coast Plumbing, a Southern California company that does residential and commercial work. Coming from a long line of plumbers, Tyler decided to obtain his license in 2017 before opening his company in the same year. His company principally serves the San Fernando Valley and its surrounding areas.

Prior to becoming a licensed plumber, Tyler had over 20 years of experience working as a tankless water heating installer. While he recommends many Noritz products to his clients, his favorite model is the NRCR111, which coincidentally was the winning product. “The NRCR is a favorite because of the size,” he explains. “I do a lot of remodeling and addition work. If I’m working on a project where the homeowner wants to add a bathroom, I know the Noritz models can handle the additional volume well,” Tyler says.

The promotion, which began on June 1, 2023, included select models in the Noritz EZ and NRCR tankless series available at supply houses across the United States. Professional plumbing and HVAC contractors were rewarded with a free Scratch & Win Card, providing them with two opportunities to win exciting prizes.

The first opportunity guaranteed a prize of Noritz branded merchandise or a discount code offering up to 25% off purchases from Noritz’s online support and parts store. In addition, contractors had the chance to win substantial cash prizes. Over 90 EZ and NRCR units carried a total of $72,500 in prize money. Among them, 50 models offered a $150 cash prize, 20 offered $500, another 20 offered $1,000, and five units offered $5,000. The highlight of the sweepstakes was the grand prize of $10,000, which was won by Tyler Pugh.

Upgrades offered include a built-in sediment filter, two cartridge pressure gauges, a more efficient treatment medium, plus universal compatibility and connection to Noritz residential models

Tankless water heater manufacturer Noritz America recently released an updated version of its revolutionary hard water-treatment product, Scale Shield. As the leader in energy savings and superior hot-water delivery, Noritz continues to lead with innovation in an ever-evolving tankless water heater industry.

The original Scale Shield aids in preventing the build-up of hard water minerals while eliminating the need for a water softener. Hard water contains dissolved calcium and magnesium that, when heated, are released in the form of a chalk-like material. This chalk coats pipes, fixtures, and fittings, creating an insulating layer that leads to lower efficiency and system malfunction.

Installed in the water heater’s water supply line, Scale Shield uses a polyphosphate material to sequester calcium before entering the water heater, preventing limescale from forming. The calcium is rendered harmless and is discarded down the drain. Scale Shield offers time savings and cost savings while reducing the footprint inside the home — all attractive benefits to homeowners.

Noritz has taken this original Scale Shield and incorporated innovations to bring this superior product to the next level with the following upgrades:

• Sediment filter: Built into the new Scale Shield, a sediment filter removes particulate matter from the water. This 5-micron filter sifts through the debris while introducing the polyphosphate additive to the water. This additive coats the calcium particulates, preventing them from releasing from the water when heated; instead, they go harmlessly down the drain.
• Cartridge gauge: Two pressure gauges allow the homeowner to check pressure levels manually. As the particulate matter and debris collect within the filter, the build-up causes water-pressure loss in the house, indicating that a replacement filter is needed. To replace the filter, the homeowner simply unscrews the housing, removes the old cartridge, and replaces it with a new one.
• Efficient material for water treatment: The new Scale Shield also uses a different treatment medium than its predecessor. A bead-like material replaces the original’s powdery substance, increasing the efficiency of water treatment and reducing corrosion caused by chlorides, silica, and dissolved iron. Although Noritz recommends a 12-month replacement timeframe at 15-grain hard water or less, the increase in media size offers a slightly extended lifespan for the product.
• Compatibility and connections: The new Scale Shield is compatible with all Noritz residential tankless water heaters and combination-boiler models. It contains a 0.75-inch stainless NPT inlet and outlet connections and, as previously noted, connects the cold water supply line to the tankless water heater.
• Cost benefits: Homeowners will reap cost savings through lower maintenance costs and a reduced need to periodically descale their Noritz tankless water heaters — even in locales with seriously hard water. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the updated Scale Shield is $178.50.

By reducing limescale, the new Scale Shield inevitably boosts the unit’s longevity while also minimizing scale build-up in other plumbing fixtures and fittings, thus lowering cleaning and other maintenance expenses.

“Installing Scale Shield is a significantly smaller cost burden than replacing your water heater’s heat exchanger due to excessive scale build-up,” explains Noritz lead engineer Randall Oshiro. “All of these cost and time savings, without a doubt, greatly enhance the value of the homeowner’s tankless water heater investment.

In addition, IAPMO/ANSI Z601 was created to enable testing on means and methods used to reduce scale in residential water heaters. A minimum of 70% reduction in scale formed in a hot water heater and downstream piping is required. The glassy polyphosphate used in the enhanced Scale Shield passed the IAPMO/ANSI Z601 Standard with 86% scale removal.

The updated Scale Shield is sold in a kit (SS-HB-3) via wholesaler-distributors or on the Noritz website and includes a wall bracket, wrench, lubrikit, pressure gauge, and one HBC-3 cartridge. Individual cartridge replacements can be found on the website as well. The Scale Shield kit also holds a 12-month warranty for parts only.

For more information on the full line of Noritz tankless water heating products, visit www.noritz.com. You can also telephone us at 866.766.7489 or e-mail us at support@noritz.com.

Today’s homes are becoming smarter and more efficient, thanks to the advancement of eco-friendly technologies and appliances—from tankless water heaters, low-flow toilets, to self-regulating thermostats. Homeowner Michael Craig, a huge proponent of this technological tide sweeping the country, wanted to upgrade his own 30-year-old residence in Lake Forest, Calif.

“My wife and I are always looking for ways to incorporate advanced technology into our lives,” says Craig, himself a tech expert and owner of Bytelaunch, a digital marketing agency based in Orange County.

In particular, Craig zeroed in on replacing his storage tank water heater with something smarter and more efficient. “We had been considering installing a tankless water heater for a long time and kept the storage tank only because it had been brand new when we moved into our home,” recalls Craig. “After a few years, we were ready to pull the trigger.”

In the spring of 2017, he learned that Noritz had a tankless solution exceeding his expectations.

An EZ Solution

Craig decided to install the ENERGY STAR-certified EZ98-DV high-efficiency, condensing tankless water heater, designed to replace 50-gallon, storage-tank models directly. His installer, Jay Baril of Swift Water Heater, happened to be beta testing the unit for Noritz. The 0.97 energy factor of the EZ98 convinced him this was a green device he wanted in his home. “Unlike our old storage-tank water heater, which burned energy heating unused water, the EZ98 promised to fire only when we needed hot water,” explains Craig.

In addition to yielding energy savings, the EZ98 would bring Craig’s water heating system into the 21^st century with its WiFi capability. By downloading the Noritz Connect app, he could take advantage of various remote functions, such as controlling the unit’s temperature and viewing error codes. “The mobile app was a big incentive for us because of our interest in the latest ‘internet of things’ innovations and smart-home trends,” says Craig.

Finally, the EZ98 unit’s direct-replacement design is intended to streamline hookup for installers swapping it in for a storage-tank unit:

• Unlike traditional tankless models, which offer only bottom-mount water-supply connections, the EZ98 unit’s connections are top-mounted—just like on the storage-tank unit being replaced. This eliminates the need to run additional plumbing lines, saving time and labor on the water connections.
• Venting options are also flexible, ranging from dual- or single-pipe (made of PVC or CPVC), to 2-inch Flex, which can be fed through the existing B-Vent.

Installer Baril opted for the 2-inch Flex for venting. He was also able to utilize the same half-inch gas line as the storage tank being replaced, avoiding the hassles and expenses of upsizing. The five-year industry veteran confirms that its configuration creates the potential for time savings.

“The engineers designing this unit put a lot of thought into streamlining the installation, which is always what plumbers look for in evaluating a new solution,” says Baril, who commonly works with storage tank heaters but was impressed with the tankless unit’s ease-of-installation. “The mounting bracket makes the unit easy to position, eliminating the need for a second installer. The top-mount connections are super easy and look very professional. The defining benefit for me, though, was the ability to use the existing B-Vent, not only in terms of saving time, but also because it means I never have to turn down an installation for lack of venting options.”

Comfort and Savings

Immediately after the installation, Craig reported low water pressure, which was later tied to a problem in the piping system and repaired. For its part, the EZ98 began heating the 1,800-square-foot home without issue, supplying hot water for three full bathrooms, a laundry room and a kitchen.

“The water pressure is now perfect, and the heat feels much more consistent across all our fixtures than previously,” says Craig, discussing the improved comfort he and his wife enjoy. “There are no more worries about running out of hot water in the middle of a shower, and the remote control with the wireless app is super-convenient, fitting right into our smart-home goals.”

The wall-hung unit also delivered one other key benefit: “The tankless water heater uses up much less real estate,” notes Craig. “We keep a washer and dryer in the same room, and now there’s more space to maneuver around these appliances.”

Last, but far from least, the switch to tankless is having a positive impact on Craig’s pocketbook. Since the EZ98 fires only on demand, the gas savings began to accrue from Day One. In 2016, with the storage tank heater, Craig’s monthly gas bill totaled an average of $17.19. In 2017, with the tankless water heater in place, the average monthly bill has decreased to $14.14. Estimates Craig, “We are saving an average of 17.7 percent on our monthly gas bill, largely due to tankless.”

In addition to the tankless water heater, Craig is gradually adding other smart, energy-efficient products to his lifestyle. He drives an electric car; has installed a thermostat that “learns” a user’s habits and adjusts accordingly; and has even considered adding solar energy to his home.

“Where others see a 30-year-old home, my wife and I see an opportunity to evolve into something greater and more sustainable,” explains Craig. “Who knows what we’ll upgrade next?”