Before jumping unto Navien tankless water heater reviews, it would be interesting to learn one or two things about the brand, don’t you think?
Navien is a word known brand vast in the design and production of tankless water heaters. Primary products of Navien tankless water heaters include the NPE-S series and NPE-A series. The next sub tells you more on the brand.
About Navien
Since 2006, Navien has been an ever growing steadily brand. It is a leader and expert in condensing heater technology and system. It provides condensing water heater, boilers and combi-boilers. Being a large brand in North America, Navien puts safety, energy, efficiency and quality as the main factors when considering a design.
Followings are the top 3 best Navien tankless water heaters we suggest:
| Best Type | Top 3 Recommended Tankless Water Heater |
| Most powerful type | Navien NPE-240-A Tankless Gas Water Heater |
| Condensing Propane and gas available both | Navien NPE-210A-LP Tankless Gas Water Heater |
| Best energy efficient one | Navien NPE-240S-NG Tankless Gas Water Heater |
Table of Contents
Navien Tankless Water Heater Reviews
There are two main series of Navien water heaters; one is NPE-A and the other NPE-S series. Both of them are great in performance and can be highly trusted. Here are detailed Navien water heater reviews of the two series:
- NPE-Advanced series
NPE-Advanced series are experts in their ComfortFlow technology. It is the first and the only system that incorporates a built-in insulated buffer tank and re-circulation pump.
So, if you’re looking for Navien tankless water heater with recirculating pump, you know where to look.
All the NPE-A series tankless water heaters are armed with re-circulation system to save water and reduce time to get hot water, so water bills are slashed by more than half and you can enjoy hot water almost instantly.
Buffer tank of Navien products totally eliminated cold water sandwich. With the ComfortFlow technology, Navien took home the award of 2013 AHR Innovation Award.
Aside this, NPE-A series also earns up to 3 LEED points with re-circulation and it lowers the HERS home index score. The other thing worth mentioning is the optional HotButton on control kit.
H2Air Circulate combines domestic hot water and space heating supplies optional, it saves money on buying extra circulate for heating system.
In term of high technology, Navien also employs Wi-Fi control on their tankless water heaters. So, you can control it remotely with Nav-Link add-on wherever it gets linked on internet.
In totality, three tankless water heaters are included in NPE-Advanced series, and they are 180A, 210A and 240A series. Please go on reading if you want to know the detailed products information.
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NPE-A Series Reviews
The highest input of this unit is 150000 BTU per hour and can be installed both outdoor and indoor.
It’s no surprise that this is the first in today’s Navien tankless water heater reviews.
Features:
- Stainless steel heat exchanger
Built with dual stainless steel heat exchanger, this unit, has a “double protection” from corrosion and offers a long service life. A lot of heaters in the market are installed with copper one, but they lasts shorter and are not as durable as stainless steel.
- 8.4gpm large flow rate
The Flow rate is an impressive 8.4 GPM, which is a pretty large flow rate for middle sized home use. It is designed for residential and commercial use both. So, when you have large demand of water flow for commercial use, just cascade many of it together.
- Ultra condensing efficiency
Because this is a Navien tankless water heater with recirculating pump, it adopts a condensing system which reduces energy consumption and green house gas effectively. Large amount of gas is well utilized without wasted. And low Nox design also makes it a best environmental friendly products.
- ComfortFlow technology equipped
As we have earlier stated, this unit is boasts of ComfortFlow technology, it boasts that it takes only 1 second for hot water to flow out and it rids cold eater sandwich successfully. However, some customers say it takes about 20 seconds for water to heat up.
Pros:
- Built-in buffer tank and re-circulation pump
- Has a Cascading Capability
- Low Nox emission
- Ultra condensing efficiency
- Large flow rate for high water demand
- Field convertible gas system
Cons:
Still needs waiting time for water to heat up
This tankless water heater allows both outdoor and indoor installation, with a maximum input of 180000 BTU per hour.
This is yet another tankless water heater reviews navien
Features:
- Gas and propane available both
This unit can powered by both natural gas and propane. If you do not have a gas line, then you can choose propane. Plus, it can also run with fuel. The condensing system helps save much energy for you.
- Space Saver
The dimension of the unit is 17.3 x 13.2 x 27.4 inches, which only takes up a small piece of place on your wall. Even when installed outdoor, modern and simple appearance also makes it a good decoration.
- Internal buffer tank
The internal buffer tank is installed to keep water hot all the time, successfully rids the cold water sandwich effect. Build in the re-circulation system also removes the trouble of getting more external pump. However, you still need to run a pipe from the faucet to tank.
- Work flawlessly
The re-circulation pump reduces time to get hot water and so is able to save much water bills for you. It is said to heat water in a second, but so far, experience has proven that waiting time is much longer than that. Buffer tank eliminated cold water sandwich, so frequent hot water is offered to meet your demand in bathing.
Pros:
- Outdoor and Indoor available
- Condensing efficiency added
- Utilizes existing 1/2″ gas line
- Field convertible
- SCH 40, 2” venting up
- Two stainless steel heat exchangers
Cons:
Making noise when heating up
The 240-A natural gas tankless water heater is the #1 highest seller type of Navien on the market in 2019 (might even till be in 2020). It is more powerful than the previously discussed NPE-A series with a maximum input is 199900 BTU per hour.
It is placed amongst the top 3 of our best Navien tankless water heater reviews
Features:
- Long customers service
Every Navien tankless water heater comes with 15 years warranty for the heating exchangers, which is longer than many other brands out there. Plus, their satisfying service is trustful an worth praising.
- Easy installation
Installation only takes about 4 hours if you have basic plumbing knowledge, if not, we still advice you put on the services of professionals. There are also clear instructions for you.
- Intelligent preheating
It is said that the unit has intelligent preheating technology, that is to say, when you take a shower or use a big volume of hot water in certain time a day commonly, it will sense the trend and begin preheating before the time of use. The heated water can also be kept warm for a long period of time.
- Good at keep water temperature
The machine is armed with advanced technology to keep water temperature for long periods, and hot water flows out pretty fast after turning on. It is able to correct fast the temperature if it drops down quickly for specific reasons.
- Easy operation front panel control center
While conducting this Navien tankless water heater reviews, we discovered that the control center is set simple and really easy to operate. It shows the status of cascade operation, water flow rate, and temperature.
It is also able to convert display from degree F to degree C. You can simply turn it off with the button.
Pros:
- Fast and Powerful flow rate
- Intelligent preheating system installed
- Their customers service is highly Satisfying
- Highly efficient
- Product can be Easily maintained
- External interface for easy operation
- Wi-Fi enabled control
Cons:
- Slightly working noise
- Do not come with a remote, you need to buy separately
Comparison of the three NPE-A series Tankless Water Heaters
| Item | NPE-180A | NPE-210A | NPE-240A |
| Heat Capacity (input) |
15,000 – 150,000 (BTU/H) |
19,900 – 180,000 (BTU/H) |
19,900 – 199,900 (BTU/H) |
| Efficiency Ratings UEF EF |
0.96 0.97 |
0.96 0.97 |
0.96 0.97 |
| Flow Rate | 8.4GPM | 10.1GPM | 11.2GPM |
| Dimensions | 17.3″ W x 27.4″ H x 13.2″ D | 17.3″ W x 27.4″ H x 13.2″ D | 17.3″ W x 27.4″ H x 13.2″ D |
| Weight | 75.0lbs (34kg) | 82.0lbs (37kg) | 82.0lbs (37kg) |
NPE-Standard Series
This series of tankless water heaters are installed with condensing tankless technology. With such a technology, the heat exchanger will save the additional heat that would be lost in non-condensing tankless water heaters types, in order to cut down energy consumption and greenhouse gas.
It also keeps your exhaust gas temperature low, low enough that economical schedule 40 PVC pipe can be used for venting directly.
Navien claims that the condensing technology of it provides up to 0.97 UEF/ 0.99 EF， being much more efficient than non-condensing tankless water heaters. With such world-famous technology, Navien becomes the winner of the 2015 AHR Innovation Award.
Other features of NPE-Standard series tankless water heaters are as follow:
- More output to save money
- Lesser costs to install
- Lower operation costs for the homeowner
- Earn LEED points
- Lower HERS score
To make you more familiar with the benefits of condensing tankless water heaters, we made a comparison between condensing tankless water heaters:
Condensing tankless water heaters Vs Non-condensing tankless water heaters
| Condensing tankless water heaters | Non-condensing tankless water heaters | |
| Input | 199000 BTU/H | 180000 BTU/H |
| Energy Factor(EF) | 0.82EF | 0.99EF/0.97UEF |
| Output | ~163000 | ~178000 |
| Max GPM | 98 | 10.1 |
| Installation Time | 4-8 hours | 4 hours |
| Venting | Other Type(not PVC) | 2”PVC |
| Gas pipe | Typically 3/4” pipe | Can use existing 1/2” pipe |
NPE-S series have 4 products, including NPE-150S, NPE-180S, NPE-210S, and NPE-240S. But here we highly advise picking the NPE-180S and NPE-240S , they are the hot-selling types now on the market in 2019. Of course, if you have an interest in the other two products, please feel free to get more knowledge from Navien tankless water heaters official website.
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NPE-Standard Series
Discussed here are two best NPE-S series tankless water heaters we would like to suggest to you:
Still on the best Navien water heater reviews, we present to you this unit which is a natural gas tankless water heater, the flow rate of it is 8.4 gpm, which is relatively high and can meet nearly all the demands of residential use. Required electric power is 120V.
Here is what we found out while conducting Navien 180 tankless water heater reviews
Features:
- Condensing technology for efficiency
Being a top brand who first adopted condensing technology on its products, this unit is of course also equipped with such energy efficient system. It recovers unused gas and efficiently reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas.
- PVC exhausted system
For non-condensing tankless water heater, you require extra 3/4” pipe, to this unit, it is said that you can still use the existing 1/2” pipe, but most people complain that 3/4” pipe is still needed.
- Ready-Link cascading technology
Ready-Link cascading technology is a system that enables the unit to cascade up to 16 units together with ease, and the common vent reaches up to 8 units. It is also able to support a large amount of water for commercial use such as for hotels, industries or for a large family of 6 use.
- Low using costs
With condensing technology and other high technology, more output is realized for the money, and short waiting time for hot water also saves much money for the water bills of the homeowner, which means the operating costs are reduced accordingly.
Pros:
- Has an intelligent preheating system
- It is efficient
- Large water flow for many room use
- PVC exhausting system for simple installation
- Condensing technology equipped
- Large water flow for multiple room use
Cons:
The price is quite expensive
This is also another Natural gas tankless Navien water heater of NPE-S series. The highest input is 199900 BTU per hour. It can be installed both indoor and outdoor.
Enjoy this Navien npe-240a-a tankless gas water heater review
Features:
- Residential & Commercial use
This unit is able to be used for both residential and commercial, the flow rate of it is 11.2 GPM, perfect for home demand. When it is used for commercial, you can just cascade several of it together. Ready-Link cascading technology of it enables you to cascade up to 16 units.
- Clear front panel control center
There is a digital clear front panel control center on the unit, it shows water flow and temperature rate, the status of cascade operation and also convertible displays from degree F to degree C. The friendly interface is also equipped with the self-diagnostics system, the error code will be displayed on the screen if it goes wrong.
- Preheating system
This point to the technology on preheating and maintaining the water temperature before using. When you commonly use large amount of water at certain times a day, the unit will sense it and begin the preheating system so that you can use it conveniently.
- Smooth working
The working condition of this unit is the quietest among all the Navien tankless water heaters; nearly no working noise can be heard during the usage process. Buffer tank inside eliminates cold water sandwich, so you can always enjoy hot water continually.
- Simple design
Inherit from other Navien tankless water heaters; this unit looks also clean and simple. You can hook it up easily and it will always meet the decorative style of your home. But when compared with others, this is a bit large on size and a little heavy, so it may take up more time in installation.
- Stainless steel heat exchangers
Stainless steel is highly corrosion resistance and the service life is highly long. That is why Navien adopts 2 stainless steel heat exchangers instead of copper. Condensing technology helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and largely improved energy efficiency.
Pros:
- Quiet working conditions
- Ultra condensing efficiency
- Installation is simple
- Intelligent preheating system
- Built to Work flawlessly
- Long warranty time
Cons:
A bit large on size
Navien Propane Tankless Water Heater Reviews
Liquid propane Navien tankless water heater is the best choice for people without gas line or enough budget, and most of the tankles water heaters now are designed to be both gas and propane available.
There is one best Liquid propane navien tankless water heater we would love to recommend to you:
Navien NPE-210A-LP Premium Condensing Propane Tankless Gas Water Heater
Check out this this tankless water heater reviews navien
This unit uses natural gas, propane, and even other fuel sources as power source. Plus, it can be installed outdoor and indoor, the venting kits are needed in the installation spots. When installing outdoor, SCH40 and 2” venting is needed.
If you want to get more information on the unit, please check it out on Amazon freely.
Navien Electric Tankless Water Heater Review
Compared with natural gas tankless water heaters, electric tankless water heaters are easier in installation, for no pipeline or venting kits are required. But natural gas type is more energy efficient; the using costs of it are far cheaper than the electric one. So, more and more people choose natural gas tankless water heater instead of an electric one.
As Navien is a brand expert in natural gas and propane tankless water heaters only, we do not recommend its electric type for you. If you would like to know more about the electric heater, we have made detailed electric tankless water heaters reviews for you.
Navien Tankless Water Heater Price
Price has always been the top priority of buyers, and Navien is really not great for those who lack budget. The average Navien tankless water heater rice reaches around $1000, which is rather expensive compared with other brands.
But, expensive as it is, the quality, simplicity and modern technology it brings to the table is totally worth the price. A lot of advanced technology is added in its NPE-Advanced series. So that the operating costs and the using costs can be saved to a large extent. And 15 years warranty for the heat exchanger is really an attractive time frame matter. After all, we would like it to be used as long as possible.
For lower tankless water heater price, you may want to check out our tankless water heater brands reviews. We have selected the most affordable and worth buying tankless water heaters for you. And if you want to know the detailed deals on Navien tankless water heaters, please feel free to check the price on Amazon.
We hope you liked this Navien tankless water heater reviews
NaviEn Faq’s
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Does Navien Make Electric Tankless Water Heaters?
Yes, Navien produces high quality electric tankless water heaters for consumers.
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Where are Navien Water Heaters made?
With global headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Navien, Inc is headquartered in California and produces condensing tankless gas water heaters in United States and Canada.
Last Words On Navien Tankless Water Heaters…
Navien tankless water heaters can be labeled the future of tankless water heaters, as it uses many high tech and greatly brings convenience and satisfaction to customers. Compared with traditional tankless water heaters, they are energy efficient and are bound to save more water bills for you.
Followings are the top 3 best Navien tankless water heaters we suggest:
| Best Type | Top 3 Recommended Tankless Water Heater |
| Most powerful type | Navien NPE-240-A Tankless Gas Water Heater |
| Condensing Propane and gas available both | Navien NPE-210A-LP Tankless Gas Water Heater |
| Best energy efficient one | Navien NPE-240S-NG Tankless Gas Water Heater |
The white color appearance blends well with any home an can be a perfect decoration. However, our Navien tankless water heater reviews discovered that the price is not a small deal, before you buy, you should get more knowledge and pick the most suitable one according to your actual budgets and needs. And for more price detail, check on Amazon or for more Navien water heater reviews, contact us directly, we are willing to help solve all the problems for you.
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