DoesTheMath

LOCHINVAR T-H3J-OS-N 1** vs Noritz NRCR92DV (GQ-C2661WXQ-FF US): which uses less energy?

At the high draw pattern the Noritz NRCR92DV (GQ-C2661WXQ-FF US) uses 173 therms a year and the LOCHINVAR T-H3J-OS-N 1** 178 — 5 therms (3%) less, about 55 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 high draw pattern.

Filed and computed figures
Figure LOCHINVAR T-H3J-OS-N 1** Noritz NRCR92DV (GQ-C2661WXQ-FF US)
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) 0.95 0.98 (better)
Energy use per year (therms) 178 173 (better)
Max flow (GPM) 4.7 4.7
Installed cost range $2,358–$3,405 $2,499–$3,570
ENERGY STAR certified yes yes
On the market since 2012-08-01 2025-05-01
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

What it costs to run

LOCHINVAR T-H3J-OS-N 1**: 178 therms a year Noritz NRCR92DV (GQ-C2661WXQ-FF US): 173 therms a year

LOCHINVAR T-H3J-OS-N 1** — 178 therms a year Noritz NRCR92DV (GQ-C2661WXQ-FF US) — 173 therms a year

Noritz NRCR92DV (GQ-C2661WXQ-FF US) is 5 therms a year lower than LOCHINVAR T-H3J-OS-N 1**.

DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

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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.
  • Both are ENERGY STAR certified, which requires a manufacturer warranty of at least six years; the actual term for each model is not published.
  • Time on the market, as filed with ENERGY STAR: the LOCHINVAR T-H3J-OS-N 1** since 2012-08-01, the Noritz NRCR92DV (GQ-C2661WXQ-FF US) since 2025-05-01. A sale date, not a lifespan.

Which should you pick?

  • Pick the Noritz NRCR92DV (GQ-C2661WXQ-FF US) if running cost matters most: it uses 5 therms less a year on the same test.
  • Pick the LOCHINVAR T-H3J-OS-N 1** if the installed price matters more than the running cost: its modeled installed range is $2,358–$3,405 against $2,499–$3,570.
  • Neither if you need more than 4.7 GPM at the same time — neither unit lists more. Check how to size a tankless unit by GPM.

Each model on its own