Want to make sure I get the right water heater

[NickG]

Found this site while researching toilets. GREAT SITE!!!

I'm replacing a 40 gal. gas water heater. It has been needing replacement for years now. We run out of hot water way too fast.

Well, it has finally gone kaput. Its leaking from somewhere and I'm going to R&R it in the morning.

My family consists of my wife, a 20-year-old daughter, 3-year-old triplets (2 girls/1 boy) and myself. That said, I'm thinking future now. The 40 gal. tanks I see have a first hour rating of 60. The 50 gallon tanks I saw have a rating of 90. I think I will go with the 50, but I'm wondering what other things I should look for in a tank. Must-have features? Waste-of-money features?

I'm hoping to spend $400-500

Thanks!

 

[Gary Swart]

Go to the home page of this site. Terry has information on water heater. Stay away from Whirlpool, but there are several good quality brands to chose from.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Cass]

Bradford White or Rheem

 

[INTP]

I made this decision a few days ago and went from a 40 to a 50. I'm glad I did, because we're now able to keep the temperature lower, but still have as much hot water for our showers/baths/etc as we did with the smaller tank and a higher temperature. I feel better with a lower temp given that we also have little ones.

 

[NickG]

I appreciate the advice. I went shopping around today and got real confused. Then I thought about it and thought about it and finally realized that a new GE from Home Depot is still worlds better than the 20-year old Montgomery Wards that was being taken out.

I opted for the 12-year, 50 gallon GE. Its in. I'm done.

Thanks.

 

[Jimbo]

GE is made by Rheem . Good quality.

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

Rheem and Ge safety systems....

they are just ok water heaters -- In my opinion
thry are good , but almost too safe....
their safety system is basicaly --overkill---


has anyone had to deal with the safety systems on
the Rheem brands yet???

Basically , if the unit does ever get too hot inside the chamber
it literally -- self-destructs--- the internal mechanism
cannot be re-built and the unit has to be thrown away.......


I just had to replace a 3 year old 40 Rheem Guardian unit
where the orfice on the burner assembly got clogged up and
started sooting up the burner

the glass vial full of oil inside the unit broke due to the heat
and the unit deided it had got too hot and "killed itself""

yes, it possibly prevented a fire ---

but the other brands out
there do that too without having to make you buy a new tank...

Rheem warranties the tank for leaks only ,
but DOES NOT give you
a new heater if it overheats due to a fire ---
even if their really was
just a defect in the burner...due to some dirty gas.



the owner was not too happy...

 

[Cass]

Did you find what was in the orifice?

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

posting pics

its just your basic garden variety sooted up orfice.....

I was surprised that it got hot enough to blow out the glass vial
inside the unit....


I have the unit at my office and will take pics of it

the burner assembly does not look that sooted up


under the chimmney where the flame hits the tank was not
very sooted up either......

I have seen much , much worse...

basically I feel the unit could have been repaired if it were not
for the "extra safe" system they have on thier units....


my biggest concern is if I were to install a few hundred
of these units in a particular area and they get some dirty gas
into their system these puppies are going to out and give the
plumber some big troubles witht he customers....
.

According to one of the top people at Rheem a Mr Jack Barker
the reason the RHEEM is soooo large and fat like they are
is to accomidate that safety system they have gone to....

So Rheem has shot themselves in the foot three times now
once when they re-designed
their units to be soo big, they lost me and many others
as a customer when the change over happenned

#2.. they had to kick down the BTU rateing to 36,000 instead of
40 ,000 to make the units work properly

and now #3 when these things start to
shut down all over the country people are going to
start to SQUEAL LOUDLY about the expence

they are literally too safe for their own good...



that is why I prefer the BRADFORD WHITE...
with the re-set button very simple very easy
and very small and compact.