Water Heater Warranty

[krux]

Is there that much of a difference in the anodized rod from a 6, 9, or 12 year water heater warranty?

I'm looking at AO Smith (Lowes) or Rheem (HomeDepot) to replace my 16 years old AO Smith water heater. AO Smith has confirmed their tanks are all the same.

My water isn't soft but not super hard either. I do not plan on having a water softener since we have lived without one for 10+ years. I'm trying to decide is it worth the extra $200-$300. I will have a friend who is a plumber install, so I doubt I can claim warranty work.

I will be replacing a 40 gallon natural gas short.

Thanks!

 

[flat350]

You're just paying extra money for the warranty length.

 

[Sumboodie]

Anodes should be replaced every few years.

 

[krux]

Actually, I just read something. Since I have hard water, I want the aluminized rod vs magnesium. Magnesium is great for soft water but horrible for hard water and can make a rotten egg smell? Is this true that I would want the 6 year warranty with the standard aluminized rod vs magnesium?

 

[dfiler2]

If you plan on staying in the house buy a Marathon water heater, I think Lowes also carries a stainless water heater with a lifetime warranty.

 

[krux]

If you plan on staying in the house buy a Marathon water heater, I think Lowes also carries a stainless water heater with a lifetime warranty.

I have natural gas. I believe these are electric which would be costly to convert over.

 

[nadogail]

Divide the "Out the Door and Installed" cost by the years of warranty and choose the lowest cost per year.

 

[Showkey]

I have natural gas. I believe these are electric which would be costly to convert over.

Yes………costly to run ………even at todays higher gas prices.


On warranty……..I had DIY heater fail ( leak at 5years 10 months) on 6 year unit. Free unit with no hassle install was on me. My first heater warranty in 40 plus years of home(s) ownership.

 

[gmcgeo]

last anode rod i bought was around $24.

 

[johninct]

I had a brand new water put out egg smelling water. The plumbing supplier was blaming municipal water and then made us change the anodized rod which require removing the water heater because of low headroom before giving us our money back. We bought one from Lowes and the problem went away.

 

[dcg9381]

From owning RVs, there are different "materials" for anode rods, depending on how hard your water is. I'm pretty certain that most consumers don't bother screwing with it and just leave **** in there till it fails. I don't think "better warranty" means better anode, it's just insurance that the water heater company has margin on. Read the fine print. I'd be shocked if "scale" is covered under warranty.

I had a brand new water put out egg smelling water. The plumbing supplier was blaming municipal water and then made us change the anodized rod which require removing the water heater because of low headroom before giving us our money back. We bought one from Lowes and the problem went away.

I'm with your plumbing supplier on that, minus changing the anode (unless it was time). My procedure is to bleach the hot water tank. Common issue with well water.

 

[Bretny]

Yes………costly to run ………even at todays higher gas prices.


On warranty……..I had DIY heater fail ( leak at 5years 10 months) on 6 year unit. Free unit with no hassle install was on me. My first heater warranty in 40 plus years of home(s) ownership.

Depends on electric costs and what type of electric water heater you have. I have a heat pump water heater. They say its 3:1 more efficient than resistance electric. I can also see how many KW it uses per day/week/month. Can you see how much gas you use with a nat gas water heater? Il gladly screen shot my heat pump app if you would like.

 

[reader2580]

Depends on electric costs and what type of electric water heater you have. I have a heat pump water heater. They say its 3:1 more efficient than resistance electric. I can also see how many KW it uses per day/week/month. Can you see how much gas you use with a nat gas water heater? Il gladly screen shot my heat pump app if you would like.

My issue with heat pump water heaters is they take heat out of the surrounding air to heat the water. My basement utility room is already cold in the winter and would be worse with a heat pump water heater. It could mean my heat runs more often so less cost savings.

 

[Showkey]

Even if the HP water heater was the same cost to operate as Natgas ………the added cost and unit complexity of the HP it would never be my choice.
Current Natgas are very reliable and simple as hammer.

Same goes for tankless. For the same reasons and discussed 100 times prior “ with a gravity recirculating return” instant hot water at every faucet with 1-2 second delay.

 

[johninct]

From owning RVs, there are different "materials" for anode rods, depending on how hard your water is. I'm pretty certain that most consumers don't bother screwing with it and just leave **** in there till it fails. I don't think "better warranty" means better anode, it's just insurance that the water heater company has margin on. Read the fine print. I'd be shocked if "scale" is covered under warranty.



I'm with your plumbing supplier on that, minus changing the anode (unless it was time). My procedure is to bleach the hot water tank. Common issue with well water.

It was a brand new water heater on city water. In fact, the house is right next to the plumbing supply house, on the same exact city water line. It was so close, we only used a dolly to transport the water heater both ways to the house and back. The problem went away as soon as the water heater from Lowes was installed. The supply house just did not want to make good and I have an account there.

 

[Bretny]

Even if the HP water heater was the same cost to operate as Natgas ………the added cost and unit complexity of the HP it would never be my choice.
Current Natgas are very reliable and simple as hammer.

Same goes for tankless. For the same reasons and discussed 100 times prior “ with a gravity recirculating return” instant hot water at every faucet with 1-2 second delay.

I got 11yrs out of a old GE HP unit. It was in the early stages of being available at big box stores. I only got 11yrs because I have very very hard water and only drained in 2x. It got a hole in the tank. Honestly if I had a 120v welder I would have welded the hole closed and let it keep working.

 

[mrpizza]

I had a rheem that had egg smelling water from a well. I turned the Stat up to 140. Problem solved.

I had a fancy catalytic carbon filter and softener on the incoming supply too.

 

[FredWanaker]

The main difference between 5 year and 10 year warranties are the number of anode rods. The 10 year often have two rods. We just replaced our water heater, and in talking with my plumber he said he prefers American Standard because they don't have that electronic gas valve that has a high incidence of failure in both AO Smith, Bradford White etc.. I have heard that those fail from several different people. I did the last water heater myself but am too old now and with a bad back to lift the new one up etc.. That said we went with the American Standard one, and so far really happy with it. Their 50 gallon fit in the same space our AO Smith 40 gallon from 2002 used to fit.

 

[reader2580]

Do electronic gas valves really fail that often? My current and previous house have had power vent water heaters (both new when I moved in) for a total of 20 years with no issues with the electronic valves or the water heaters in general. 12 years on the first one before I moved and seven years on the current one.

 

[gmcgeo]

Do electronic gas valves really fail that often? My current and previous house have had power vent water heaters (both new when I moved in) for a total of 20 years with no issues with the electronic valves or the water heaters in general. 12 years on the first one before I moved and seven years on the current one.

no, many times it is missed diagnosed.

 

[FredWanaker]

yes - Ferguson told me they sell a lot, and often new water heaters because the cost is almost as much as a new water heater to replace one. The problem is not that everyone of them fails, but a good number of them fail. The gas valve on the American Standard is the old trusty style with the exception that it has a piezo lighter in it. meaning you don't need a match anymore. Personally I think it looks better made then the others. The flush valve is brass instead of the plastic ones that came on my former AO Smith that went bad every few years and dripped. Don't get me wrong, I like AO Smith and Bradford White. But I know we made the right decision with this new water heater. The old one was still working after 20 years because I changed anode rods faithfully.

 

[dcg9381]

Same goes for tankless. For the same reasons and discussed 100 times prior “ with a gravity recirculating return” instant hot water at every faucet with 1-2 second delay.

"Gravity recirculation" doesn't make sense to me. Maybe they mean thermosyphon recirculation (hot water rises). We've got some fancy tankless - they can calculate typical use periods, etc. I turned all that **** off. We have "doorbell" buttons on all of the baths that turn on the pump re-circulation function for two minutes when pressed. For us, it's more about water conservation (our water supply is very limited) - but it conserves power too.

 

[Showkey]

Gravity and thermosiphon are same system with minor variations.
Gravity hot water loops work because the heated water rises through the loop. As the water cools near the end of the loop, it falls and is thermo-syphoned back into the hot water heater. The cooled water enters the bottom of the heater at the drain valve inlet in a slow, constant flow. The term gravity is used more with basement water heaters. The return line is 2-4” lower than the supply line.

Tankless and auto recirc defeats the tankless theory.
Some use recirc pumps activated be various types of switches.
Long lines to kitchen sinks, dishwasher and laundry with out recirc can be a concern.