wassermeister
New Member
I am sick and tired of dealing with replacement of steel tank electric water heaters in rental apartments. It seems like they do not build them like they used to. The steel is either really bad or they use less of it in modern tanks compared to stuff that was build 25+ years ago. Water heaters just leak at a some point - no matter what. My local utility, Portland General Electric, is offering a $75 utility rebate on Rheem Marathon water heaters through Energy Trust of Oregon.
Rheem is apparently offering a limited lifetime warranty on the tank against leaks, rust, and corrosion. The Marathon tank costs roughly double of what a standard electric water heater costs, but I expect to last forever. If a standard electric tank lasts 6-10years I should be in the money once a replacement tank for a steel tank is due.
The Rheem folks working at the subsidiary Water Heater Innovations in Eagan, MN are telling me that these tanks have been on the market for more than 30 years. If this is the case - does anybody know what the track record of Rheem Marathon water heaters looks like? Do they really last forever?
I would hate to start replacing my standard electric steel tank water heaters with the polybutane lined Marathon water heaters if they do not stand up to the test of time. Irrespective of the product warranty - spending the money on another plumber installation would not be the greatest.
The manufacturer also states that they know use titanium plated lower elements in all 30, 40, and 50 gallon tanks. Is this overkill? I thought normal water heater elements are made of copper or steel?
What do you think? Will this fix a water heater leak forever?
Rheem is apparently offering a limited lifetime warranty on the tank against leaks, rust, and corrosion. The Marathon tank costs roughly double of what a standard electric water heater costs, but I expect to last forever. If a standard electric tank lasts 6-10years I should be in the money once a replacement tank for a steel tank is due.
The Rheem folks working at the subsidiary Water Heater Innovations in Eagan, MN are telling me that these tanks have been on the market for more than 30 years. If this is the case - does anybody know what the track record of Rheem Marathon water heaters looks like? Do they really last forever?
I would hate to start replacing my standard electric steel tank water heaters with the polybutane lined Marathon water heaters if they do not stand up to the test of time. Irrespective of the product warranty - spending the money on another plumber installation would not be the greatest.
The manufacturer also states that they know use titanium plated lower elements in all 30, 40, and 50 gallon tanks. Is this overkill? I thought normal water heater elements are made of copper or steel?
What do you think? Will this fix a water heater leak forever?