Noritz NRCP Eco TOUGH Code Er44
Recirculation abnormality. The recirculation circuit is not working as it should. On this generation Noritz gives the code three remedies — check the return line filter, check the recirculation setting for External or Internal mode, and check the pump operation — and calls it recirculation abnormality. The first generation numbers the same fault the same way but calls it "possible pump failure" with one remedy, and carries a separate Er46 for low recirculation flow that does not exist here. Manual reset.
Also displayed as: 44, E44
DIY fixThe verdict
No parts needed — reset or re-check a setting
Two of the three are yours: the return line filter, which clogs and is easy to forget, and the recirculation mode setting, which is wrong more often than people expect after any plumbing change. Only the third — the pump — is a service call.
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
- Clean the recirculation return line filter. It is the first thing Noritz lists and the most common cause.
- Check the recirculation setting matches the installation — Noritz names External and Internal mode explicitly.
- Listen for whether the pump runs when the unit calls for recirculation.
- If the filter is clean and the setting is right, book a service call for the pump.
Frequently asked questions
I have been reading about Er46 for low recirculation flow. Does my unit have it?
Not if it is an Eco TOUGH. Noritz dropped Er46 on this generation and widened Er44 to cover the same ground — return line filter, recirculation setting, pump. Er46 belongs to the NRCP111-DV and NRCP98-DV.
Code Er44 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: