Noritz tankless water heater code Er38
Circuit board memory error. Code Er38 means the same thing on all 2 Noritz series documented here — but the fix, and what it costs, is still worth reading for your exact unit.
What code Er38 means on each Noritz series
| Series | What it means | Verdict | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| NRCP | Circuit board memory error | Part replacement | $0–$900 |
| NRCP Eco TOUGH | Circuit board memory error | Part replacement | $0–$900 |
Each row opens the full page for that generation. We hold manuals for NRCP and NRCP Eco TOUGH, and each one gets its own reading of code Er38 — what Noritz documents, what you can safely check yourself, and what the repair should cost.
What each manual actually says
The table above compares 2 series in four columns, which is enough to route you and not enough to explain anything. This is the Noritz wording behind each row, one entry per manual, so you can see where the 2 readings of code Er38 agree and where they part company.
NRCP — Circuit board memory error
Noritz calls this abnormal operation — a memory error on the circuit board. The remedy is a single line with a conclusion built in: try the main power switch off and on, and if the same error code returns, the circuit board needs to be replaced.
NRCP Eco TOUGH — Circuit board memory error
Abnormal operation — a memory error on the PCB. Noritz's remedy on this generation is shorter than the first's: try to reset first, and if the same error code returns, contact technical support. Where the earlier manual concluded outright that the board needs replacing, this one stops at contacting support. Manual reset.
Does it matter which Noritz you have?
NRCP and NRCP Eco TOUGH all route code Er38 the same way: a replacement part, at $0–$900. That makes it one of the Noritz numbers you can act on before working out which unit you own.
What to check first, whatever your series
These checks are on the manufacturer's list for every Noritz series that reports code Er38, so they are safe to work through before you have identified your exact unit. They also cost nothing.
- Switch off at the breaker, wait a full minute, and switch back on.
- Run a hot tap and see whether Er38 returns.
That is 2 of the 3 checks documented for code Er38. The rest differ by generation, so if none of those explains it, go to your own series above.
Which Noritz do you have?
On the 2 series that report code Er38, the model number on the rating label starts NRCP — match yours against the 4 listed below. You can also use the full model-number decoder.
Where this comes from
Source: Noritz Service Manual — NRCP111-DV / NRCP98-DV (Rev. 09/19) (p. 62), read Sep 2026 — the manufacturer's own documentation for this Noritz range.
Source: Noritz Service Manual — NRCP1112-DV / NRCP982-DV Eco TOUGH (Rev. 05/19) (p. 58), read Sep 2026 — the manufacturer's own documentation for this Noritz range.
Parts, guides and symptoms behind code Er38
Code Er38 on these 2 Noritz series points at 1 guide, 1 part and 2 symptoms, each named by the manufacturer's own procedure for this code.