Fogatti FDG-CS120 vs Noritz NR501-OD-LP: which uses less energy?
At the medium draw pattern the Fogatti FDG-CS120 uses 132 therms a year and the Noritz NR501-OD-LP 135 — 3 therms (2%) less, about 32 therms over ten years. Both are filed as a gas tankless unit, so the comparison holds. Enter your ZIP below to price the difference.
Side by side
Compared within one class only: models filed as a gas tankless unit at the medium draw pattern.
| Figure | Fogatti FDG-CS120 | Noritz NR501-OD-LP |
|---|---|---|
| UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) | 0.84 (better) | 0.82 |
| Energy use per year (therms) | 132 (better) | 135 |
| Max flow (GPM) | 3 | 3.1 |
| Installed cost range | $1,839–$2,798 | $1,745–$2,687 |
| ENERGY STAR certified | not matched | not matched |
What it costs to run
Reliability
Not published: Reliability, failure rates and each model’s actual warranty term.
The registries these figures come from certify energy performance under a federal test; none of them records how long a unit lasts or how often it fails, so this page does not rank the two on reliability.
What is here instead:
- The filed efficiency, capacity and tank size of both models, side by side below.
- The actual warranty term is printed in each model’s documentation, not in any registry.
Which should you pick?
- Pick the Fogatti FDG-CS120 if running cost matters most: it uses 3 therms less a year on the same test.
- Pick the Noritz NR501-OD-LP if you run more fixtures at once: it lists 3.1 GPM against 3.
- Neither if you need more than 3.1 GPM at the same time — neither unit lists more. Check how to size a tankless unit by GPM.
Each model on its own
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Fogatti FDG-CS120
Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.
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Noritz NR501-OD-LP
Its filed figures, class position and running cost on your ZIP.