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Compare Noritz vs. Rinnai vs. Takagi to Buy the Best Tankless Water Heater

Noritz tankless water heaterNoritz
Rinnai tankless water heaterRinnai
Takagi tankless water heaterTakagi

Compare Noritz vs. Rinnai vs. Takagi, including specifications and top features so you can buy the best tankless water heater for potable water and home space heating. Find out which manufacturer has the largest selection, most Energy Star models, and water heaters with the most innovative features.

Best tankless water heater comparison

About Rinnai

With over 100 years of experience in the water heating industry, Rinnai is one of the most prestigious tankless brands in the world. As the largest manufacturer of gas appliances in Japan, Rinnai has a well-established reputation for quality and innovation.

According to the company, Rinnai is the first and only major tankless brand to have a manufacturing facility in the U.S. with advanced automation and precision assembly processes.

Founded in 1974, Rinnai America Corporation has been providing high-quality water and home heating products to U.S. customers for decades, ensuring a cost-effective and comfortable lifestyle.

Rinnai offers a variety of products for efficient and eco-friendly on-demand water heating, including models from the RU, RUCS, RUS, RSC, and RUR series.

The best Rinnai models come with advanced features such as Wi-Fi capability, Amazon Alexa integration, super high-efficiency, Circ-Logic recirculation technology, and more.

Rinnai RUR199 tankless water heaterRinnai
(photo: amazon)

Specifications

Models / Specs RUR199i RU199i RSC199i
Gas input
(BTU)		 15,000
199,000		 15,000
199,000		 15,000
199,000
Water flow (GPM)
30 F temp.rise		 9.8 (11 max) 9.8 (11 max) 9.8 (11 max)
Uniform Energy Factor 0.93 0.93 0.93
Temp. settings (F) 98-140 98-140 98-140
Weight (lbs) 73 64 68
Remote INTEGRATED INTEGRATED INTEGRATED
Ultra-Low NOx YES YES YES
Wi-Fi ready YES YES YES
Recirculation YES YES YES
Warranty 15 15 15

Features

  • Super high efficiency
  • Condensing technology
  • Ultra Low NOx gas emission
  • Wi-Fi ready for remote control
  • Recirculation for faster water delivery
  • Mobile home certified
  • Multiple venting options for condensing models
  • Energy Star
  • Isolation valves included
  • Warranty - 15 years

Best of Noritz

About Noritz

Noritz is another Japanese HVAC company that is popular in North America. The company started producing gas water heaters in the early 1960s. Their first gas-powered bathtub water heater was not only smartly designed but also highly efficient, made of lightweight aluminum, replacing the widely used copper.

Every year, the company produces over one million units and sells them to customers in over 16 countries.

Noritz tankless water heaters are available as non-condensing and condensing models, with the latter being the most advanced and delivering the greatest savings. Depending on your needs and budget, look for models from the EZ, NRCR, and NRCB series.

Noritz NRCP1112 tankless water heaterNoritz
(photo: amazon)

Specifications

Models / Specs NRCR111 NRCB199 NRC111
Gas input (BTU) 18,000
199,900		 18,000
199,900		 16,000
199,900
Water flow (GPM)
30 F temp.rise		 11.1 11.1 11.1
Uniform Energy Factor 0.95 95% (AFUE) 0.91
Temp. settings (F) 100-140 90-140
80-180		 100-140
Weight (lbs) 73 95 66
Remote controller Yes Yes Yes
Ultra-Low NOx Low Low Low
Wi-Fi ready Yes No No
Recirculation Yes No No
Warranty 15 10 12

Features

  • High efficient
  • Condensing
  • Highest water flow
  • Warranty - 15-25 years
  • Low NOx burner
  • Large display (some models)
  • Internal pump, recirculation compatible, two modes
  • Commercial grade heat exhangers and dual flame burners
  • Combined domestic and space heating (some models)
  • Communication cable to connect two units into one system for bigger capacity
  • Optional isolation valves
  • Energy Star approved

Best of Takagi

About Takagi

Since 1952, Takagi has been delivering quality tankless water heaters for residential and commercial water heating.

According to the company, Takagi was the first tankless water heater company specializing in tankless-only products to enter the North American market. It was also the first company to offer products with an efficiency of over 95% and a system to convert the unit to a direct vent.

This is the third high-quality Japanese water heating product that we recommend here, available to customers throughout America and Canada.

There are over 40 condensing and non-condensing models available for residential and commercial use (or both), among which the T-H3 and TK-540 are the most advanced.

Takagi T-H3 tankless water heaterTakagi
(photo: amazon)

Specifications

Models / Specs T-H3-DV-N TK-540P-NIH
Gas input (BTU) 15,000
199,000		 15,000
199,000
Water flow (GPM)
30 F temp.rise		 10 10
Uniform Energy Factor 0.93 0.93
Temp. settings (F) 100-140 100-140
Weight (lbs) 59 70
Remote INTEGRATED INTEGRATED
Ultra-Low NOx Yes Yes
WiFi ready ? ?
Recirculation No Yes
Warranty 15 15

Features

  • High Efficiency
  • Condensing technology
  • Integrated temperature controller
  • Warranty - 15 years
  • Ultra Low NOx models available
  • Easy-Link up to four units
  • Multi-Link up to 20 units
  • Energy Star approved

Noritz vs. Rinnai vs. Takagi - Conclusion

All three brands, Noritz, Rinnai, and Takagi, have a decent number of quality models, offering condensing and non-condensing technology, innovative electronics and diagnostic systems, ultra-high efficiency, and flexible venting.

They all offer powerful gas burners with modulation and a high water flow rate of around 10 GPM, heating water on demand and delivering hot water in an endless supply.

The warranty is long (15 years on most), and all top models are Energy Star approved.

Taking into account all the specs and features shown here, customer satisfaction, and reviews we read, we recommend the Rinnai RUR series.

In addition, the Rinnai company has been in the market the longest (over 100 years) and offers state-of-the-art features such as Wi-Fi, Amazon Alexa voice system, and Circ-Logic recirculation technology.

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