//Quick answer
- One of three tankless brands on Done-Rite trucks.
- $4,000 to $6,000 installed; permit usually required.
- Condensing units need a condensate drain and appropriate venting.
- Dealer or certified-installer status: not confirmed, not claimed.
01Definition
What is Navien known for?
Navien is a major manufacturer of condensing tankless water heaters and combination heating units. In the residential market it is associated with high-efficiency condensing designs and with recirculation features that shorten the wait for hot water at distant fixtures. That combination is why it comes up on larger homes and on homes with a long run to the master bath.
What does a Navien install involve?
The same scope as any condensing tankless: gas supply sized for a large burner, venting suited to a condensing unit, a condensate drain, water connections with isolation valves for flushing, and power for the controls. The scope is why the install is priced well above a tank swap and usually involves a permit.
02When it applies
When does Navien fit?
A home that wants tankless and where the wait for hot water is part of the complaint, because the recirculation options are a natural fit. Also any home where a condensing unit's venting and condensate drain are straightforward to run.
When would the crew point you to Noritz or Rinnai instead?
Fit, venting path, and what the house already has. All three are units the crew installs and services; the recommendation is about which one suits the installation, not about a preferred brand. The three-way comparison covers the practical differences.
03What goes wrong
What goes wrong with tankless units, Navien included?
Scale in the heat exchanger from hard water, which is prevented by periodic descaling through the isolation valves, and undersizing for the household's simultaneous demand. Neither is a brand problem; both are install and maintenance problems.
04Proof
- Jason Shen, Google, September 16, 2026: "Daniel did an excellent job installing my whole house carbon filtration and water conditioning system. He also flushed out my tankless water heater."
- 1 year minimum warranty on labor. Manufacturer warranty handling varies by manufacturer.
- When a job needs a permit, Done-Rite pulls it and schedules the inspection.
- California CSLB C-36 licence #998069. Licensed, bonded and insured, with workers compensation.
05Action
Price a Navien install
$4,000 to $6,000 installed, 1 year minimum labor warranty, permit pulled when required. Financing is available with terms up to 10 years.
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Where this applies
Done-Rite runs these calls across Orange County from its shop in Anaheim, CA, with no trip charge in any city it serves.
