Hi, and thanks for your help! Note that I'm being specific here; I consider myself a good (if not obsessive) when it comes to researching purchases like this; I've searched thru & read a lot of great info on this site before making this post,
We moved in our current home a year ago, have softened well water, but the softener is only about 2-3yo (it's a good, Hellenbrand one). But the 40g Richmond heater (tall) is about 7yo, and there are 'stones' rattling around inside when it heats up. It also seem to go 'on' a lot; heating up in the middle of the night when there hasn't been any hot water running for several hours. I'm guessing the years prior to the good softener created the stones & what I imagine to be a crusty anode rod.
I was going to just drain it & get a new anode rod, but thinking about it, the stones sound like they're too big to drain out, and the anode might be so roached that it doesn't come out easily/at all. $50 for a good rod, $15-20 for a 1-1/16" socket & the possibility I could kill it when doing the work has me thinking it's better to replace it. I replaced a gas heater at my previous home & feel comfortable doing it again.
Knowing the supply houses usually carry slightly better units than bigbox stores (i.e., brass valves)...and having access to 2 major local supply houses...I have it narrowed down to two units w/identical specs & identical prices (within $2!!); an AO Smith ProMax GCR-40 and the Bradford White Defender RG240T6N. I was surprised to see so much negativity on AO Smith re. 'clogged filters' and pilot light issues. Bradford white doesn't seem to have any systemic problems, but overall brand reliability LOOKS to be about the same (and I know that the vast majority of people that don't have problems never say anything in reviews).
SO...I have two questions:
1- what features/'issues'/history would lead you to pick one of these models/brands over the other
2-do you know if I can/should add a 2nd anode rod to either one of them (knowing I have tested/good softened water & will keep up on salt & maintenance)?
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!
We moved in our current home a year ago, have softened well water, but the softener is only about 2-3yo (it's a good, Hellenbrand one). But the 40g Richmond heater (tall) is about 7yo, and there are 'stones' rattling around inside when it heats up. It also seem to go 'on' a lot; heating up in the middle of the night when there hasn't been any hot water running for several hours. I'm guessing the years prior to the good softener created the stones & what I imagine to be a crusty anode rod.
I was going to just drain it & get a new anode rod, but thinking about it, the stones sound like they're too big to drain out, and the anode might be so roached that it doesn't come out easily/at all. $50 for a good rod, $15-20 for a 1-1/16" socket & the possibility I could kill it when doing the work has me thinking it's better to replace it. I replaced a gas heater at my previous home & feel comfortable doing it again.
Knowing the supply houses usually carry slightly better units than bigbox stores (i.e., brass valves)...and having access to 2 major local supply houses...I have it narrowed down to two units w/identical specs & identical prices (within $2!!); an AO Smith ProMax GCR-40 and the Bradford White Defender RG240T6N. I was surprised to see so much negativity on AO Smith re. 'clogged filters' and pilot light issues. Bradford white doesn't seem to have any systemic problems, but overall brand reliability LOOKS to be about the same (and I know that the vast majority of people that don't have problems never say anything in reviews).
SO...I have two questions:
1- what features/'issues'/history would lead you to pick one of these models/brands over the other
2-do you know if I can/should add a 2nd anode rod to either one of them (knowing I have tested/good softened water & will keep up on salt & maintenance)?
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!
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