Another Hot Water Heater Question

I need to replace my old 40 gallon gas hot water heater and there are 3 likely choices for me, and I have a few questions.

GE Smartwater (from Home Depot) Whirlpool (From Lowes) Kenmore (Sears)

Since they are all basically the same price, does one brand have a better reputation for quality, as far as gas water heaters go?

Is it worth $100 more for a 12 year warranty vs. a 6 year warranty? My water heaters seem to last about 8 years. My first one (AO Smith) lasted 8 years before it burst and flooded my basement, and my 2nd one, which is also an AO Smith needs to be replaced now, after 8 years.

Maybe that's all I can get out of a water heater, based on my quality of water, so should I just be getting 6 year water heaters and just try and replace them when they seem ready to fail? Otherwise, to collect on a warranty, it seems I'd have to let it fail, or maybe burst and flood my basement again.

Steve

Reply to
Steve
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I used to wrok for Sears. I avoid them when possible. They like to use off spec parts (so you have to go back to them) and in 1996 when I worked for them, they run their guys hard. Speed, but not quality.

Reply to
Stormin Mormonn

Gas tankless are supposed to last 3 to 4 times longer, cost less to operate. Aquastar, and Takagi are top brands. You will pay now but save down the road

Reply to
m Ransley

I'd get the 6-year model and install a water alarm and drain pan that's piped to the outside.

Reply to
Phisherman

Jeez, that's a really quick death for an AO Smith. We got about 18 years out of our last one.

I just replaced it this autumn with a GE from HD; their GE's aren't really GE; they're made by Rheem, if that helps any.

Reply to
Robert A. Barr

Water heaters are relatively inexpensive and generally fairly easy to replace. I wouldn't bother with the extended warranty.

Reply to
Des Perado

The difference between the 6 year and the 12 year is not only the warranty. The sacrificial anode on the 12 year is more long lasting than on the six. To me, I think it's worth the difference.

Reply to
Marilyn and Bob

How hot do you set the temp on the water heater?

If its set that its necessary to add cold water to take a bath or shower its set to hot and costing you $$.

IF its to hot is that a reason for the short life?

Reply to
tflfb

Definitely not set too high.

I'm in a development of houses where all our water heaters failed around the same time. We could see each other's water heaters on the street waiting for trash pickup. I think it's just the quality of water here, and we all had AO Smith 6 year warranty gas water heaters.

My main fear isn't that the water heater dies and I have no hot water. After all, I can get a water heater installed the same day from most places locally, within hours, but my concern is another flooded basement and damaged items, but as long as I'm going to get a new one, I might as well get one with a solid reputation.

I've gotten some interesting helpful responses, but it seems that nobody prefers a GE over a Whirlpool or AO Smith. I'd have to think that one of these would be better than the other, right?

Steve

Reply to
Steve

I am concerned about my 10 yr old gas water heater, listen to this a guy I work with has a 30 yr old water heater, I can't believe it. We live in the Midwest.

Reply to
tflfb

They add some features with the 12 year. Check the box.

A.O. Smith, I think. That's what my last one was that I purchased at Sears.

Reply to
Jimmy

WHEN (not if) my current gas water heater (tank type) goes out, I will replace it with one of the new tankless models. They are very energy efficient because they only heat water when someone turns on the hot water tap. There are a variety of sizes for different household requirements, and they are capable of producing plenty of hot water.

Something for you to think about.

Reply to
Steven Johnson

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