Looking for 47" tall 40 gal elec. water heater

My 7 yr old Whirlpool heater is leaking, am looking for the same that will fit the pipes, since Whirlpool folded, am finding out they come in many different sizes. I can go as high as 48 1/2 inches to 49 " w/c height.
The Richmond was too tall by a couple of inches.

 

Not enough info to help.
Electric or gas ?
Is the size constraint because of it being in a closet ? If so how wide is the opening ?
Know that the top connections could be altered if necessary.
Most heaters come in multiple sizes within the capacity ........ short - medium & Tall.

It's unusual for a 7 year tank to start leaking... Is it the tank or the fittings ? After 7 years the anode rod is probably used up and the tank is indeed rusting ... but it usually takes longer to rust through.

 

It is electric, leaking slowly from the bottom, am trying to avoid cutting the top pipes, looked all over for one similar size, but they make them too tall.

 

Expending all the time for exact match isn't worth the effort when you can use flexible connectors with little work. Cut the current lines ..... put on an adapter . Avoid the braided line connectors and use the corrugated as in the picture.

Sharkbite makes connectors that just "push on" existing pipes

This Rheem at Home Depot is 48 1/2.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rheem-P...ric-Tank-Water-Heater-XE40M06ST45U1/205810725

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rheem-P...ric-Tank-Water-Heater-XE30S06ST45U1/205810630
Under info and guides click on specs has a list of other heaters and sizes

 

Be aware that those probably have reduced ID. I wonder if you could shove a 5/8 od pipe through those 3/4 inch lines. The Falcon Mega-Flow are full size.

 

I actually just called Sharkbite out of curiosity ....... and they could not provide an answer ..... other than saying a braided connector has the rubber type insert & the corrugated "should" be near the 3/4 ...... so they might be comparable to the Falcon at .720.

 

Click Inbox, above.

You can find a lot of shorter WHs if you search for "Low boy", but those are wider also.

 

Some places require their WH to be hard piped, and some require flexible connections (mostly in earthquake country), and some allow either. So, before you consider flexible pipe, you need to know what your local building department requires.