Which is the best water heater?
My 50 gallon water heater has sprung a small leak, about a quart in 24 hours. It came with the house and is probably 15 years old so I've decided to bite the bullet and get a new one. I want one that is very efficient as my energy bill this already through the roof and summer hasn't even begun. I welcome recommendations? Mike
The new gas operated hot water heaters similar to the old 15 year old one you have have gone over a lot of changes since then. They are a lot more fuel efficient with better burners and better insulation. To keep all of your costs down I would suggest you buy the same size as your old one and try to get one that has the same dimensions for the piping system, etc. That way you can take out the old one and the new one will fit right in and all the piping will connect easily. Check to see if the gas company gives rebates for new water heaters (no matter wher you buy it). Some do and you can also install them yourself. The last time i put one in for someone, they got $50.00 from the gas co by filling out a simple form and sending it in with a copy of the sales receipt for the heater.
Look at the size, warranties and price because almost every water heater sold in America is made by either Rheem or A.O. Smith. Tankless heaters are the only exception. I know what you're gonna say: "I have a GE water heater" or "I have a Kenmore." Look at it closer and you'll see: Made to GE specifications by Rheem. Water heaters don't exactly sell on Unique and Exciting Features. How to buy a water heater: Start by measuring the place your water heater goes. Get the width of the place's entrance and the distance from the pipes to the floor. Now go to a water heater store and measure the water heaters. The biggest one that will fit into the space is the one you want. I think just about everyone gets one that's bigger than the one they now have, because water heaters are a popular place for builders to get cheap on you. The only exceptions are people who already have the huge one, and people who get the one that looks like a washing machine because those only come in 40-gallon size. I have seen three warranty levels on water heaters: 6, 9 and 12 years. The 12-year has two nice features: it heats water faster ("recovery time") which is good if you have kids getting ready for school, and better insulation which saves you money. Add two things to your shopping list. The first is a drain pan to go under the unit; these keep the floor dry when the unit does start leaking. (Our contractor sales desk has a commercial water heater on display. On the label is "all water heaters eventually leak.") The other is some PVC pipe and fittings to route the temperature & pressure relief valve to a floor drain, outside or wherever. The T&P valve is there to vent the heater in case it boils over. If this device pops, it will spray extremely hot water all over the room it's in, and if you get hit by it you will become best buddies with the doctors in the local burn center. (As Stella Liebeck can attest, hot water can cause third-degree burns.) And you probably will get hit by it because too many electricians think putting the breaker panel right next to the water heater is a wonderful idea. Ten bucks for plumbing could be the best investment you ever made. Some people like to insulate the unit, put insulation around the plumbing and otherwise pack on the insulation. It is a great idea and you should do this too, but it's optional. Someday I'm going to build a house with three water heaters in it, one for the kitchen, another for the dishwasher and one for the bath; this way I can run the dishwasher at 160 and the kitchen sink at 135 without boiling anyone in the shower. I don't think it would be that outrageous to do. -- --jmowreader