Navien · Tankless water heater

E593 Front panel key abnormal

Low severity Navien NPE-2

What the control is telling you

A front panel button is detected as stuck or faulty.

Applies to: Navien NPE-A2 (built-in recirculation) and NPE-S2 condensing tankless water heaters: NPE-150S2, NPE-180A2/S2, NPE-210A2/S2, NPE-240A2/S2

Likely causes

  • Button stuck pressed
  • Moisture on the panel
  • Front panel fault

Test and repair steps

  1. Check that no button is held in or damaged; keep the panel dry (it is moisture resistant, not waterproof).
  2. Turn power off and on.
  3. Fix given phone Navien Technical Support, 1-800-519-8794.

Settings for these units

Installation clearances (indoor / outdoor) · Navien NPE-2

SideIndoorOutdoor
Top9 in. (229 mm)36 in. (900 mm)
Back0.5 in. (13 mm)0.5 in. (13 mm)
Front4 in. (100 mm)24 in. (600 mm)
Sides3 in. (76 mm)3 in. (76 mm)
Bottom12 in. (300 mm)12 in. (300 mm)

Vent clearance to combustibles is 0 in.

Outdoor: use the Navien Outdoor Vent Kit; keep 3 ft from an eave to the top of the vent terminals; mild climates only.

Water quality limits and flushing schedule · Navien NPE-2

Hardnessgrains/gal (mg/L)TreatmentFlush frequency
Soft0-4 (0-60)NoneNone
Moderately hard4-7 (61-120)None requiredOnce a year
Hard7-9 (121-160)Softener or Navien PeakFlow recommendedOnce a year
Very hard9-12 (161-200)Softener or PeakFlow highly recommendedResidential once a year; commercial twice a year
Extremely hard>12 (200)Softener or PeakFlow required-

Other max levels: hardness 200 mg/L, chloride 250, copper 1.0, iron 0.3, manganese 0.05, sulfate 250, TDS 500, zinc 5, chlorine 4 mg/L; aluminum 0.05-0.2 mg/L; pH 6.5-8.5.

Flushing is advised when no treatment device is installed; use white vinegar or a tankless descaler.

Models that show this code

7 models in Navien NPE-2

NPE-150S2NPE-180A2NPE-180S2NPE-210A2NPE-210S2NPE-240A2NPE-240S2

Other codes on the same units

  • E441 Hot water inlet 2 thermistor open or shorted
  • E445 Bypass mixing valve abnormal
  • E515 PCB abnormal
  • E517 DIP switch setting abnormal
  • E594 EEPROM abnormal
  • E615 Input and memory abnormal
  • E736 Cascade communication abnormal
  • E740 Outdoor temperature sensor abnormal (with air handler)

Save it for the next call

Star this code in the HVACopedia app and keep the whole library on your phone for jobs with no signal.

Open the app

Source: Navien NPE-A2/S2 User's Information Manual (20049624A), 5.2 Understanding Error Codes, p.17. Summarized in our own words; check the original manual for your model.

Homeowner looking at this code? See what it means for you and when to call a technician.

For licensed technicians. Gas, electrical and refrigerant work must be done by a qualified, licensed person. Shut off power and gas before servicing, never bypass a safety control, and follow the manufacturer’s manual for the exact model; it and local codes always take priority. HVACopedia is not affiliated with any manufacturer; brand and model names only identify the equipment.