Quick Answer: The best Noritz tankless water heater for most 2026 retrofits is the EZTR50 — a 180,000 BTU condensing bundle rated up to 9.8 GPM on a warm inlet at a 0.98 UEF, backed by a 25-year heat-exchanger warranty and shipping with its vent kit and isolation valves included, recently priced around $3,027 against a $4,609.76 list. Buying the heater on its own and sourcing the vent separately? The proven NRC98-DV-NG hits the same 9.8 GPM class at a 0.91 UEF for roughly half the price — list $2,907.83, commonly seen near $1,549.88. Smaller homes should look at the NRC66-DV-NG (6.6 GPM, ~$1,247), and cold-climate or high-demand households should size up to the NRC1111-DV (11.1 GPM peak, 0.91 UEF). Every GPM figure here assumes a warm inlet — Noritz’s own propane spec sheets show real winter flow can be roughly half the catalog number.
Noritz doesn’t chase Home Depot shelf space the way Rheem does, and it isn’t winding down the way Takagi is — it sells condensing tankless heaters through plumbing wholesalers and Amazon, and in 2026 it just refreshed its entire residential lineup with the new EZ Series. That refresh makes shopping Noritz more confusing, not less: you’re now choosing between a legacy NRC platform that’s been discounted 40–50% off list and a new EZ bundle that costs more up front but adds a longer warranty and an install kit. This guide ranks both.
Noritz’s model names, decoded
Noritz runs two overlapping product families that both trace back to the same handful of heat-exchanger platforms:
- NRC Series (established, condensing): NRC66 (6.6 GPM class, 120,000 BTU), NRC98 (9.8 GPM class, 180,000 BTU), NRC1111 (11.1 GPM class, 199,900 BTU). Suffixes: DV = direct vent (indoor), OD = outdoor (no venting needed), NG/LP = fuel type.
- EZ Series (new for 2026, condensing): EZTR40/50/75 retrofit bundles and the EZ71DV/98DV/111DV pro line. Higher UEF ceiling (up to 0.98), a 25-year heat-exchanger warranty, a built-in EZ Start Plus Bluetooth app, top-mounted water connections, and NG-to-LP field conversion parts included.
- They’re not a clean break. Noritz’s own support site lists the EZTR40 under the internal part number “NRC663-FSV-NG (EZTR40-NG)” — evidence the EZ bundles are built on the same NRC-class hardware, packaged with the vent kit and valves a plumber would otherwise buy separately.
- NR (no C) models are older non-condensing units, mostly surviving today in outdoor form — cheaper, but a lower efficiency class (roughly 0.80 UEF territory) than any current condensing NRC or EZ unit.
Our top picks at a glance
| Model | Best for | Type | Max Flow (warm inlet) | Efficiency | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EZTR50 | Best overall / easiest retrofit | Gas condensing bundle | 9.8 GPM · 180k BTU | 0.98 UEF | ~$3,027 ($4,609.76 list) |
| NRC98-DV-NG | Best value condensing | Gas condensing | 9.8 GPM · 180k BTU | 0.91 UEF | ~$1,549.88 ($2,907.83 list) |
| NRC66-DV-NG | Best for small homes | Gas condensing | 6.6 GPM · 120k BTU | 0.89 UEF | ~$1,247 |
| NRC1111-DV-LP | Best high-flow / cold climate | Gas condensing (propane) | 11.1 GPM (6.2 GPM @ 60°F rise) | 0.91 UEF | ~$1,779.85 ($3,339.29 list) |
By the numbers
- 0.98 UEF on the 2026 EZTR50 — Noritz’s highest-rated residential unit, per Noritz’s own product spec sheet, up from the 0.89–0.93 UEF class of the older NRC series. — Noritz
- 25-year heat-exchanger warranty on the EZ Series for single-family, non-recirculating use (5 years on parts, 1 year on labor) — more than double the 12-year heat-exchanger warranty Noritz backs its NRC series with. — Noritz
- 6.2 GPM at a 60°F rise vs an 11.1 GPM catalog peak for the NRC1111-DV-LP — Noritz’s own propane spec sheet shows roughly half the headline flow once you size for realistic winter inlet temperatures. — Noritz spec sheet
- ~47% off list was the recent street price on the NRC98-DV-NG ($1,549.88 against a $2,907.83 MSRP), and the NRC1111-DV-LP showed a similar discount pattern — evidence the NRC platform is being sold through at a steep markdown as the EZ Series takes over as the flagship line. — retailer listings, July 2026
- 12-year heat-exchanger warranty on the NRC66-DV-NG’s commercial-grade copper heat exchanger, plus a 1-year in-home labor warranty on every Noritz residential model. — Noritz
1. Noritz EZTR50 — Best Overall
Noritz EZTR50 Condensing Tankless Water Heater Bundle
- Noritz's 2026-generation flagship: 0.98 UEF, the highest efficiency rating in the current residential lineup.
- Ships as a complete kit — heater, vent components, isolation valves and a startup guide — built for retrofit installs replacing an old tank or an older tankless unit.
- Built-in EZ Start Plus Bluetooth app, top-mounted water connections for easier retrofits, and NG-to-LP field conversion parts included in the box.
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The EZTR50 is the unit Noritz built specifically to make the swap from an old tank easier: instead of a plumber pricing out a vent kit, isolation valves and a startup accessory pack as separate line items, they come bundled with the heater. That convenience costs real money — at roughly $3,027 it’s nearly double the bare NRC98-DV-NG below — but the 25-year heat-exchanger warranty (more than twice the NRC series’ 12 years) and the 0.98 UEF rating make it the strongest long-term buy if you’re planning to stay in the house. Compare it against the Rinnai RX199iN (0.98 UEF, 15-year warranty) if you want the direct flagship-versus-flagship matchup.
2. Noritz NRC98-DV-NG — Best Value Condensing
Noritz NRC98-DV-NG Indoor Condensing Tankless Water Heater
- Same 9.8 GPM class and 180,000 BTU output as the EZTR50, at roughly half the recently seen street price.
- 0.91 UEF condensing efficiency, PVC-ventable, ENERGY STAR-eligible.
- No bundled vent kit or valves — budget for those separately if a plumber isn't sourcing them.
If you’re comfortable pricing the vent kit, isolation valves and gas line work separately — or your installer already has them on the truck — the NRC98-DV-NG is the better dollar-for-dollar buy. It’s the same flow class and BTU output as the EZTR50, just built on the proven older platform rather than the 2026 refresh, and the 12-year heat-exchanger warranty is still solid for a mid-tier condensing unit. It’s the pick we’d shortlist alongside the Rheem Performance Platinum in our best gas tankless roundup for buyers prioritizing price over the newest feature set.
3. Noritz NRC66-DV-NG — Best for Small Homes
Noritz NRC66-DV-NG Indoor Condensing Tankless Water Heater
- 120,000 BTU and 6.6 GPM warm-inlet flow — sized for a 1–2 bath home rather than a whole large household.
- Commercial-grade copper heat exchanger backed by a 12-year warranty, plus a 1-year in-home labor warranty.
- Also sold in an outdoor version (NRC66-OD-NG) that skips indoor venting entirely for mild-climate installs.
Not every home needs a 180,000+ BTU unit. The NRC66-DV-NG is Noritz’s entry point into condensing efficiency, and at roughly $1,247 it undercuts the 9.8 GPM units by several hundred dollars while still covering a single shower plus a sink or two running at once — realistic for a smaller home or a secondary property. If you don’t want to deal with indoor venting at all, the outdoor NRC66-OD-NG shares the same 120,000 BTU, 6.6 GPM and 0.89 UEF spec, just mounted on an exterior wall. For point-of-use jobs even smaller than this, see our best point-of-use water heater guide.
4. Noritz NRC1111-DV-LP — Best High-Flow / Cold Climate
Noritz NRC1111-DV-LP Indoor Condensing Tankless Water Heater
- Noritz's largest residential platform: 199,900 BTU and an 11.1 GPM peak flow rating.
- At a realistic 60°F winter temperature rise, Noritz's own propane spec sheet rates real-world flow at 6.2 GPM — plan around that number, not the peak figure.
- Propane version reviewed here; the natural-gas NRC1111-DV-NG shares the same core specs for homes on a gas line.
This is the Noritz to buy if you’re in a cold-winter climate and running multiple bathrooms and a laundry line simultaneously — the 199,900 BTU burner gives it the same output class as Rheem’s and Rinnai’s flagships. The honest number to plan around is the 6.2 GPM propane rating at a 60°F rise, not the 11.1 GPM peak on the box; that’s the same climate-dependent math that trips up shoppers across every brand in this category. Cross-reference against our electric vs gas comparison if you’re still deciding on fuel type before committing to a high-output unit.
How to choose a Noritz tankless water heater
- Decode NRC vs EZ first: NRC = proven platform, heavily discounted from list, no bundled install kit. EZ = 2026 refresh, higher UEF, 25-year heat-exchanger warranty, ships with the vent kit and valves included — you’re paying more for convenience and warranty length, not a different core heater.
- Size by BTU class, then confirm winter flow: the 66/98/1111 numbers roughly track GPM class (6.6 / 9.8 / 11.1), but always check the propane or cold-climate flow rating, not just the natural-gas peak number.
- Condensing is the default for indoor installs: every current NRC and EZ indoor model vents in cheap PVC; only legacy outdoor NR-series units skip condensing, and they trade efficiency for a simpler no-vent install.
- Match the fuel suffix: NG = natural gas, LP = propane — Noritz gas units don’t field-convert on the older NRC platform the way the new EZ Series does.
- Budget the extras on NRC models: vent kit, isolation valves, and a condensate drain aren’t included unless you buy an EZTR bundle — get a full installed quote, not just the heater price.
The bottom line
For most 2026 retrofits, the Noritz EZTR50 is the best Noritz tankless water heater — 9.8 GPM, a class-leading 0.98 UEF, and a 25-year heat-exchanger warranty with the install kit bundled in, around $3,027. If you’re pricing the vent and valves separately, the NRC98-DV-NG delivers the same flow class at a proven 0.91 UEF for roughly half the cost. Smaller homes should look at the NRC66-DV-NG (~$1,247), and cold-climate, high-demand households should size up to the NRC1111-DV-LP. Comparing across brands? Start with our best tankless water heater roundup for every fuel type, the Rinnai lineup guide for the flagship rivalry, or our Takagi guide to see what happens when a brand winds down instead of refreshing its lineup like Noritz just did.