Noritz NRC Series Code 32
Hot water thermistor fault. The sensor reading the outgoing hot water temperature is out of range. Noritz gives this one three display-window codes rather than two: an open circuit, a short, and a third case it calls detection temperature abnormality — the sensor reporting a reading that is electrically valid but physically impossible.
Also displayed as: 321, 322, 323
Part replacementThe verdict
Replace a part
The outlet thermistor is the one the unit uses to hold your set temperature, so a failing one shows up as water that swings hot and cold. Cheap part, service call to fit it, and worth doing promptly because the failure mode is uncomfortable rather than subtle.
Typical cost: $120–$450
US estimate for parts and labor. Prices vary by region and by who does the work — see how we estimate costs.
What the manual says
The meaning above is transcribed from the manufacturer's diagnostic documentation for the NRC Series — not averaged across the brand.
Source: Noritz Service Manual — NR501-OD, NR662-OD, NRC661, NRC711 (Rev. Dec 2013) (p. 28), read Sep 2026 — the manufacturer's own documentation for this exact series.
What you can safely check
- Tell the technician the display-window code: 321 open circuit, 322 short, 323 an implausible reading.
- Warn anyone in the house that outlet temperature may not be reliable until it is fixed.
- Book a service call.
Frequently asked questions
What is 323 — the third code the others do not have?
Noritz labels it detection temperature abnormality. The sensor is not open and not shorted; it is returning a temperature the unit does not believe. That usually means the sensor has drifted rather than failed outright, and it is the case most likely to have been causing odd temperatures for a while before the code appeared.
Code 32 on other Noritz series
The same code number can mean something different on another series — make sure you're reading the page for your exact unit:
Don't confuse this with
4 other Noritz NRC Series codes point at a thermistor too. They are different components in different places, and ordering a part against the wrong one is the most common way this fault gets expensive: