Noritz NRCP Eco TOUGH Code Er38
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.
Also displayed as: 38, E38
Part replacementThe verdict
Replace a part
One free attempt, then a phone call. Noritz does not name the board as the answer here the way the first-generation manual does, which leaves more room for the fault to be something recoverable.
Typical cost: $0–$900
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 NRCP Eco TOUGH — not averaged across the brand.
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 exact series.
What you can safely check
- Switch off at the breaker, wait a full minute, and switch back on.
- Run a hot tap and see whether Er38 returns.
- If it returns, contact Noritz technical support or a licensed professional.
Code Er38 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
One other Noritz NRCP Eco TOUGH code points at the circuit board 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: