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Navien Tankless Water Heater Review

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission for made purchases.

Are you looking for a new water heater? If yes, then you should consider buying a Navien Tankless Water Heater. This is because they offer great features such as energy efficiency, safety, durability, and convenience.

The Navien brand was founded in 1973 and has since become one of the leading manufacturers of residential heating systems.

They also manufacture commercial and industrial heaters. Their products include gas, electric, propane, and solar heaters.

A tankless water heater is a type of hot water system that heats water only when needed.

In contrast, a conventional tanked water heater stores water in a large tank and uses gravity to feed the water through a series of pipes into the home.

Tankless water heaters have become a more cost effective system that offers you a smaller carbon footprint.

As a result, many people are making the switch from a traditional water tank to a tankless system. 

Navien is a relatively new company on the market and therefore might not be as well known as some of the other bigger names. Let’s take a look at the company, and whether their tankless water heater is any good.

Who Are Navien? A Quick Backstory Of Them And Their Heaters

As we mentioned before, Navien was first created in 1973 in Seoul. It was originally called KD Navien, which stood for KyungDong Navien.

Just 10 years after its creation, KD Navien was the first (and only!) business to create an environmentally friendly boiler in Asia. 

Due to the high success rate of their water heaters, Navien was able to expand overseas and now is regularly exporting their goods to over 30 countries around the world. 

Navien expanded to the USA in 2006 and quickly became the biggest manufacturer for condensing gas boilers in the continent.

Their head office is now in California, and they have just recently started manufacturing the water heaters in North America, too. 

Many companies outside of Europe did not consider eco-friendliness to be an important factor in the creation of their water heaters.

This is what Navien capitalized on and probably helped to make them so popular. They are now a leader in creating eco-friendly water heaters. 

Another benefit of Navien is that they are installed by professionals, as are they maintained. Navien trains all of their staff themselves with three training centers in North America, in California, New Jersey, and Ontario. 

Best Features Of Navien Tankless Water Heaters

Here are some of the best features of Navien tankless water heaters. These will help you decide if this is the right product for your needs. As you can see, there are many features that have been specifically created by Navien.

One of the best things about this company is that they haven’t used generic practices to create their tankless water heaters, but instead made their own technology that is more efficient and effective than what is on the market currently. 

One of the best Condensing technology water heaters on the market of high efficiency.

ComfortFlow Recirculation System

Navien has integrated another tank within the water heater that acts as a buffer to recirculate any water that has not been used.

This prevents any wasted water, and you won’t need to add any new pumps to the tank to keep it moving. 

More efficient at creating endless hot water for all your whole house heating needs.

NaviCirc

You can opt to add a recirculation valve into your tankless water heater if you do not have an available return line.

This allows you to still enjoy the benefits of domestic hot water even if you don’t have all of the working parts traditionally needed. 

NaviTech

The NaviTech technology is simple yet effective. It consists of two stainless steel heat exchangers as well as a burner.

This allows you to access hot water without having a large tank in your home. It is also more energy-efficient! 

Hot Button

Another added feature that you can choose to have is the HotButton. This allows you to activate the heater with a simple press of a button.

Once you press the HotButton, the stored water from the supply lines will begin to heat. This allows you to get hot water without even opening the tap, which is a much faster option.

NaviLink

If you want to add WiFi controls to your water heater, Navien lets you do just that! This optional remote control feature allows you to control the water tank from anywhere thanks to an app on your phone.

Change the temperature, see reports on the health of the water, and monitor your usage all from your phone. 

H2Air

This final optional add-on helps you to combine heating with hot water. H2Air pumps hot water to a radiator within a furnace, which is then used to warm air around it.

This hot air is then taken through your ductwork to circulate and heat other areas of your house. This can save money when it comes to having to install a new heating system. 

This system is creating a combi boilers system that works with you size home.

EZNav Intuitive Controls

The basic controls that come with your tankless water heater are located on the body and allow you to read the temperature easily, as well as monitoring everything going on with your water heater. 

This ultimate features benefits are relevant and provide a great user experience and help when the unit is mounted where space & location keep on-time services from being rendered.

Can You Rely On The Navien Tankless Water Heater?

Every Navien water heater comes with two certifications for the highest efficiency rating possible – from LEED as well as Energy Star. This makes the water heaters some of the most environmentally friendly among the market. 

Not only do their certifications ensure that they are eco-friendly, but they also ensure the reader that the tankless water heaters have a more impressive lifespan than traditional water heaters.

Furthermore, they have been shown to use less energy and therefore reduce your carbon usage, which can come with a plethora of benefits for you. 

There are many benefits of having a tankless water heater, such as only heating water when needed. The water is heated incredibly quickly so that you can use it as and when you need it. However, this will produce steam. 

Once the steam loses its heat, it turns back to cold water. Unfortunately, this water cannot be used again as it is incredibly acidic.

Using this water would potentially harm your pipes and weaken the structure of your water system. 

You can choose from two lines of Navien’s tankless water heaters, which are either condensing or non-condensing. 

If you choose a tankless water heater that is condensing, it will remove the heat internally to neutralize the acidic water. This will then either be filtered or added to more water to reduce the strength before being sent down a waste pipe. 

Alternatively, you could choose a non-condensing tankless water heater which uses a vent to allow the steam to escape outside. Here it can turn back to water outside rather than in the confines of your water tank, preventing any damage along the way.  

So, Navien tankless water heaters have proven to their users that they are very reliable and trustworthy appliances. 

Average Lifespan Of Navien Tankless Water Heaters

One of the biggest advantages of using a tankless water heater (see also ‘Takagi T-H3-DV-N In-Depth Review For 2021’) is the fact that it lasts much longer than traditional systems.

In fact, this is a common reason why so many people are making the switch from traditional to tankless. 

A typical tankless water heater from Navien has a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years. This means that you don’t have to worry about replacing it every few years like a traditional water heater.

The biggest benefit of tankless water heaters is that they use water only when you need it. This prevents you from needing a large tank of continuously heated water sitting in your home at all hours of the day.

As the water will slowly be corroding the water tank, removing the tank altogether is bound to improve the lifespan in and of itself. 

Navien’s patented technology is bound to have something to do with why it can be kept for decades without the need for replacement.

While some other tankless water heaters can last around 10 years, Navien’s products have some of the most impressive lifespans on the market. 

Even better yet – your Navien tankless water heater could last even longer than 20 years as long as you keep up with the regular maintenance needs! 

Maintaining Your Navien Tankless Water Heater

If you want to make sure that your water heater lasts for as long as possible, you should do regular maintenance checks on it to ensure that it is working correctly.

We’ve created a list of four of the top things that you can do to ensure that your tankless water heater remains in good health over its lifespan. 

1. Examine The Water

Fill the basin with some hot water and take a moment to notice the smell and perhaps even the taste. Does it taste like metal or smell unpleasant?

Water should have no taste or smell, so if there is something wrong with these two factors, the water heater might need attention.

There are a number of reasons why your water tastes or smells strange – there could be iron in the heater, which would make your water undrinkable and dangerous.

So it’s important that you get a plumber to check it out right away. They will be able to assist you and get you the right help to fix your water supply in the quickest time.

2. Keep An Eye On The Water Pressure

Sometimes the most noticeable changes are the ones to tell you that something is wrong with your water heater.

If there is suddenly a lack of hot water coming from your tap, there is cause to call the plumber and get a professional looking at it. 

3. Notice Any Unusual Noises? 

Tankless water heaters, when running smoothly, should be almost silent. So, if there are any new noises coming from the heater, it could be an indication that something is wrong.

The most common cause of noise within a water heater is a build up of sediment.

While sediment isn’t a big deal right away, if you allow it to build up beyond repair then you’re going to have to spend a lot of money on a new boiler.

So, as soon as you hear strange noises coming from the boiler, contant your plumber for further inspection. 

4. Check The Water Quality

The look of your water is often the first indication that something is wrong – is it cloudy? Does it have pieces of sediment floating in it?

It might have even changed color! If you see any issues with the quality of your water, it’s best to get a professional to look at it for you. 

Before calling the plumber, though, contact your local municipal water supplier. They might be able to shed some light on the situation and tell you whether it is the local water supply with the issue.

If it is a local issue, then it won’t be your water heater that needs attention. Instead, you might require a water treatment system to be installed. 

Where Does Navien Manufacture Their Tankless Water Heaters? 

Navien continues to manufacture the majority of their tankless water heaters in Seoul, South Korea. This is the same place that they have manufactured their products since first opening in the 1970s. 

However, Navien recently announced that from February 2020, they would be creating a new manufacturing building within the United States.

The factory will be placed in James City County in Virginia, and it will cost around $77.5 million to get up and running. Not only that, but it will also create 180 jobs for locals! 

During its first two years of operation, the building will be used for distribution purposes only. After these initial years, it will then move onto being used for manufacturing in 2023. 

But Navien’s plans don’t stop there! Currently, the building is 300,000 square feet, but that’s not enough for the popular company. By 2026, they’re hoping to expand that to 900,000 square feet. 

The company believes that their close proximity to the Port of Virginia will allow them to deliver their products to eastern countries quicker, as well as passing them back and forth from their shipment facility in California. 

So, if you choose to get a Navien tankless water heater, you might be getting it from Seoul, but it’s more likely to have come from a place a little closer to home – Virginia! 

Average Price Of Navien Tankless Water Heaters

Of course, as with choosing anything for your home, the price is going to play a big part in which model you get. So, are the Navien water heaters a good investment, or are they priced too high for the average household to attain? Let’s find out now. 

On average, Navien water heaters are priced between $800 and $2,000. Bear in mind that this is for the unit individually and you will need to pay more for installation and maintenance. 

You can only purchase a tankless water heater from Navien from an authorized dealer, which means that you will also need to factor in the costs of fitting the heater, service costs, and any extra fees that plumbers require for their time. 

$800 to $2,000 is a large range of cost, so you will need to decide on what type of boiler you want before you can get a more accurate price point.

We’ve already looked at the two different types of water heater Navien offers – condensing and non-condensing. 

However, they have now expanded into another type of water heater – a combi-boiler. This water heater can heat both your water as well as your house through a heating system.

This is where the highest end of the price spectrum comes in. A combi-boiler is going to cost much more than a tankless water heater. 

Moving onto the condensing tankless water heaters – these are more expensive initially, but the cost of installation should be lower than a non-condensing water heater.

This is because you don’t have to install a venting system into your home for the condensing heater. 

Despite this, maintenance costs might be higher as the internal workings will be corroded quicker due to the lack of vent. This means that you might end up paying more over time. 

A non-condensing tankless water heater has a lower price point, although you will need to pay more for installation due to the required venting system.

While the vent will cost more in the short term, it will add longevity to your heater’s lifespan and therefore cost less in the long run. 

Optional Features And Their Prices

Navien also offers a number of added features to choose from.

We’ve mentioned what they do above in the article (skip to the features section if you want to read more!), so now we will just look at how much they’d cost you if you were to opt for them.

Bear in mind that these costs will be added on top of the cost of your tankless water heater! 

  • NaviLink (monitoring your water heater through your phone): between $200 and $250
  • H2Air Kit (heating home as well as water): around $1,500 for both parts and installation
  • HotButton Kit (hot water at the press of a button): $80 for the kit, between $150 and $300 for installation

Overall, the cost of your Navien tankless water heater is likely to be higher than a traditional water heater.

However, you will be saving money over the years which will make the water heater cheaper in the long run! 

Does Navien Offer A Warranty On Their Tankless Water Heaters?

Does Navien Offer A Warranty On Their Tankless Water Heaters

Yes! Navien does offer a warranty, and it’s an impressive one at that. All Navien products come with a limited warranty to cover parts and labor, as well as the heat exchanger. 

Your warranty will begin from the date that your water heater is installed. The parts will be covered for 3 to 5 years, labor will be covered for one year, and the heat exchanger comes with an impressive warranty of between 5 and 15 years! 

You should be mindful that it is possible to void your warranty, however, and Navien has some clear rules on their website that, if broken, will void the warranty. These include, but are not limited to: 

  • Using an unauthorized supplier or distributor to deliver and install the tankless water heater. 
  • Damages caused by power surges, fires, flooding, or anything else not to do with the manufacturing process.
  • Failing to conduct maintenance on the water heater at home, or misusing it with any other settings than what is detailed in the user manual.

You can find the rest of the rules on Navien’s website or in the user manual of your tankless water heater. 

Have There Been Any Recalls For Navien’s Water Heaters? 

Yes, there has been one recall on Navien’s tankless water heaters in December 2018. 3,400 water heaters were recalled as they were producing too much carbon monoxide, creating a risk of poisoning. 

Navien offered free replacements for all of the recalled products and there were no reports of injuries among the users. 

There have been no more recalls of Navien’s products since then. 

Summary

Overall, Navien tankless water heaters are excellent boilers to have in your home. They’re energy-efficient and help to reduce your carbon footprint.

They might cost more than your traditional water heater, but they will save you money in the long run! 

Navien also offers an excellent warranty and customer service. If your budget allows, we think that Navien’s tankless water heaters are an excellent investment.

Q&A With NHVA

Good afternoon, and welcome to our interview with members of the National HVAC Association. Today, we are discussing the Navien tankless water heater, which has created quite a buzz in the industry. To begin, can you please describe the basic features of the Navien models?

National HVAC Association (NHVA): Absolutely! The Navien tankless water heaters are a revolutionary addition to the industry, providing hot water on demand, with features like a buffer tank and recirculation pump. They are known for their compact design, which offers significant space savings.

WHH: That sounds incredible. Can you delve into how the endless supply of hot water works and what difference it makes compared to traditional models?

NHVA: Of course! The Navien tankless models operate by instantly heating water as it flows through the unit. Unlike traditional heaters that reheat water in a large tank, there’s no waiting time. This design ensures an endless supply of hot water as needed. The buffer tank minimizes the “cold water sandwich” effect, offering a more consistent temperature.

WHH: So how does the space heating function work, and what’s the importance of proper maintenance in these models?

NHVA: Space heating can be integrated with some Navien tankless water heater models, using the heated water to provide heating for the living spaces. This dual functionality adds to the compact and space-saving nature of the unit.

Proper maintenance, including checking the gas lines and ensuring that the unit is periodically drained, prolongs the life of the heater. This makes a big difference in performance and can prevent potential fuel-related issues.

WHH: Interesting. Additionally, can you talk about the benefits of a recirculation pump?

NHVA: Certainly! The recirculation pump ensures that hot water is readily available in the lines, reducing waiting times. It circulates the water back to be reheated, leading to significant energy and water savings.

WHH: The Navien tankless water heaters seem to be a step ahead in technology. Are they widely sold, and what are your final thoughts on these models?

NHVA: Yes, they are sold by various retailers, and their popularity continues to grow due to the benefits they offer. They fit well on any wall, are easy to install, and the compact design is perfect for smaller homes. Additionally, the fuel efficiency and endless supply of hot water are game-changers for many homeowners.

WHH: It’s clear that the Navien tankless water heaters are indeed a significant advancement in the industry. Thank you for sharing your insights with us today.

NHVA: It’s been a pleasure. The more people know about the possibilities offered by new technology like this, the more they can enjoy a comfortable and efficient life at home.

WHH: Thanks again, and to our listeners, stay tuned to Water Heater Hub for more insights into the industry!

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