So, the secret is out, guys. Tankless water heater are becoming more popular in Europe — and in the United States as well — than ever before. Actually, they began in Europe and have made their way to the United States over the years.
Tankless water heaters had some serious issues when they first came out. They were known for their unreliability, short bursts of cold water (also known as cold water sandwich) and other minor mishaps; but luckily for us, they have gotten much better, and their problems were all addressed over time.
Nowadays, one thing I can say with my eyes closed, is that tankless water heaters work, and they work well. Put your trust in these water heaters and you won’t be disappointed.
Ultimate Guide to Navien Tankless Water Heaters
| Water heater (Image) | Water heater (Name) | Energy | Flow rate (GPM) |
|---|---|---|---|
  | Navien NPE-240A | Gas | 11.2 GPM @ 35°F 8.7 GPM @ 45°F 5.6 GPM @ 67°F |
| Navien NPE240S-NG | Natural Gas | 11.2 GPM @ 35°F 8.7 GPM @ 45°F 5.7 GPM @ 67°F |
  | Navien NPE-240A-LP | Propane | 11.2 GPM @ 35°F 8.7 GPM @ 45°F 5.7 GPM @ 67°F |
  | Navien NPE-180A | Gas | 8.4 GPM @ 35°F 6.5 GPM @ 45°F 4.3 GPM @ 67°F |
  | Navien NPE180S-LP | Liquid Propane | 8.4 GPM @ 35°F 6.5 GPM @ 45°F 4.2 GPM @ 67°F |
  | Navien NPE-180-A | Gas | 8.4 GPM @ 35°F 6.5 GPM @ 45°F 4.3 GPM @ 67°F |
Navien is one of the best tankless water heater brands out there. It’s and always has been one of the leading companies in water heating equipment for decades. Now KD Navien manufactures the world’s top efficient, energy saving, and CO2 reducing water heating products. Their water heating equipment were introduced to the market in 1978, and have since flourished in the hot water community. Navien is widely regarded as a solid product in this industry. We wont necessarily say that Navien is the “Cadillac” of the hot water community, but it is a great, above par brand. They were the first Asian company to develop and produce a highly efficient, environmentally-friendly condensing boiler.
Despite making a name for themselves in Asia, Navien has found major success in the United States, Europe and Canada. About ten years ago, Navien has expanded its operations to the U.S. and Canada, and they quickly became one of the most reputable and fastest growing companies in the home comfort sector, which provide condensing tankless gas water heaters and condensing combi boilers.
However, with any product, there are some who love it and some who aren’t too fond of it. We consider Navien tankless water heaters to be a bit more expensive than the majority of tankless water heaters we come across. However, Navien tankless water heaters are one of the most popular and well-known classes of water heaters in the water heating world, but you might be on the fence about them.
What separates a Navien from a Bosch or some other tankless water heater brand? Aren’t they all the same – just water heaters ? Good thing for you we’ve put together a nifty little all-inclusive guide to let you know the pros and cons of Navien tankless water heaters, so you can make the choice for yourself.
Table of Contents
The Navien NPE240S is a state of the art tankless water heater which has been collecting nothing but positive reviews since the day it hit the market in 2013. Tankless water heaters are undeniably a safer and smarter choice when compared to regular/ traditional tank water heaters. Nevertheless, we can’t just blindly trust the first tankless water heater we lay our eyes on. So, let’s take a closer look at the model at hand.
This Navien tankless water heater is known for being one of the company’s most powerful products as it can provide a continuous flow rate of up to 11.1 gallons per minute at a 45 degrees temperature rise and 12.1 at a 35 degrees rise. Meaning: this model is strong enough to cater for a mansion of 6 to 7 bathrooms or even a small apartment building comfortably. That being said, this model is also very suitable for commercial use, considering how powerful it is.
Other than that, the unit is very compatible and fades in well even if installed in an exposed space because of the friendly body design. Additionally, the controls couldn’t be easier, it’s enough that you click a button to manipulate the water temperature to the degree you desire and lock it accordingly.
The Navien NPE240S comes in two models: one for natural gas users and the other for propane users which emphasizes user preferences. Also, price is always a prominent aspect in the industry and when you compare the price tag on this unit to other brands in the same range efficiency/power wise, you realize that you can save a few hundred bucks on this unit which can be invested elsewhere.
In most cases and with almost all products, cheaper items are relatively of lower quality than expensive ones but this might just be one of the few special exceptions to that rule. Nothing exhibits confidence like a healthy warranty that says “we trust our product” and that is exactly what the manufacturers of this unit did. The model at hand comes with an astounding 15 years warranty for residential users. However, you must hire a licensed professional to install the unit for you and you’re set for life.
Another Navien goes by the name NPE180S is also a remarkable machine which is capable of pulling through the hardest of circumstances. With a little care, this tankless water heater can live up to 25 years and that’s more than I can ask for. With a continuous flow of 8.4 gallons per minute at 45 degrees rise and 9.5 GPM at 35 degrees rise this unit can manage a household of 4 to 5 bathrooms perfectly and that’s significant.
This model is primarily made of stainless steel to support the pressure that water heaters undergo and also to appear attractive or less repulsive when installed in an open space. The unit can heat up your water to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, making it compatible with industrial use as well as regular home usage. Also, this Navien unit comes in two models to support natural gas and propane separately and guarantee that the users get exactly what they need.
When it comes to user friendliness, the controls and basic features on this model are similar to all Navien tankless tankless water heaters in this category which means that control should be smooth and easy to figure out on your own.
Another important aspect is the warranty life on the NPE180S which is also similar to other Naviens (15 years long warranty for residential users on the condition that you hire a licensed professional to install the unit for you).
On a whole other level, there’s a tankless water heater called Navien NPE-240A which is also a premium condensing model only this one is much more powerful than most tankless water heaters out there period. This bad boy can generate a continuous flow rate of 11.2 gallons per minute at a 45 degrees temperature rise and 12.2 GPM at 35 degrees rise, making it one of the most, if not the most, powerful models Navien has ever produced.
With such power this tankless water heater can cater for a household of 7 bathrooms plus the regular day to day chores which require hot water and that makes it perfect for owners of large houses or even suburban sized apartment buildings. What’s remarkable is that it can deliver/cut hot water instantaneously unlike traditional tank heaters which take forever to heat and cause you to spoil half or a quarter tank because you were done with your shower too soon.
When it comes to user friendliness, this model is no exception to other Navien heaters as it comes in two models to support natural gas and propane separately. Also, the configuration and controls are similarly easy and the warranty life is exceptional. Other than the fact that it will take water a couple seconds to heat initially, I would say that this tankless water heater is a master piece.
The Navien NPE-210A is a solid tankless water heater with a solid brand standing behind it and that does matter. A familiar name doesn’t just become so out of nowhere. It takes one too many building blocks in order to achieve a reputation that can be mentioned especially in an industry like this one. Navien might not be in the top 3 yet because it’s a relatively young brand but it’s growing every year.
The model at hand is an example of the company’s progress as it can generate a continuous flow rate of 10.1 gallons per minute at a 45 degrees temperature rise and 11.0 GPM at 34 degrees rise which is compatible with households of 5 to 6 bathrooms, in addition to the day to day household requirements.
Power is not everything because this model supports user preferences to the limit for it comes in two versions to support natural gas users and propane users alike. Also, the digital control panel is smooth and interactive which makes it easy to manipulate the water temperature to the precise degree you need. Last but not least, the warranty life cannot be skipped since it makes or breaks the quality of a product. A long warranty life usually indicates higher quality and that’s why this model comes with a 15 years long warranty. If that’s not enough to convince you then I don’t know what would.
Navien Tankless Water Heaters: An In-Depth Review
Navien offers many products and has a little something for everyone. Their major draws are certainly their gas tankless water heaters, gas combi boilers, condensing gas heating boilers, accessories and replacement parts.
Navien tankless water heaters come in two major varieties: residential and commercial. We are not going to get into the debate about which is better; they both clearly work, and it really boils down to personal preference, needs and intended use.
Unlike traditional tank storage water heaters that keep heating water all day long, tankless water heaters such as those offered by Navien only operate when hot water is needed. The cold water travels through a pipe into the water heater, then the “heat exchanger” gets activated by the incoming water flow and it quickly heats the water to the preset temperature.
Navien likes to brag about its condensing technology used in their tankless water heaters, which basically means that the flue gases are used to to reheat the incoming cold water which is why Navien tankless water heaters are some of the most efficient tankless water heaters in the market, when compared to conventional tankless or tank-type water heaters.
Navien’s water heaters boast an average of 0.98 energy factor. This is a dramatic improvement from traditional tank-type water heaters and other tankless water heaters that have only 0.55 and 0.82 energy factor, respectively. Although many other brands are implementing this technology in manufacturing tankless water heaters, their their average energy factor doesn’t exceed 0.95, which is obviously way below Navien’s.
Aside from the condensing technology, Navien tankless water heaters are equipped with high efficient ECO Premixed Burners which significantly reduced CO and NOx emissions by as much as 75%. This Eco Burner Technology makes the Navien tankless water heaters some of the most eco-friendly tankless heaters in the market.
Additionally, and in order to completely eliminate “cold water sandwich effect”, Navien used ComfortFlow technology — an advanced system that consists of an internal insulated buffer tank and a recirculation pump — designed to provide the most comfortable and seamless delivery of hot water.
I plan to buy a tankless but couldn’t find in this review a suggested one for small houses for up to 4 people. it’d only say how many bathrooms it’d handle..