Experts - Recommended Water Heater

[Blowby]

Since we raised 3 kids the dual 50 gal, gas water heaters are in place and ready to be swapped out. I have a plumber ready to do the install but haven't decided on a brand that will last and provide hot water as needed.

After looking online at reviews every brand has negative and positive reviews so how do I make a choice? Any expert plumbers have the brand / model they strongly recommend? Thanks in advance.

[newracer]

Look into replacing with a demand water heater. Best home purchase I have ever made.

[kidicarus13]

Look into replacing with a demand water heater. Best home purchase I have ever made.

Please describe your experience vs a standard water heater. Price/convenience/maintenance

[OtterbatHellcat]

FWIW....I heard that early models couldn't keep up with demand. Perhaps they do a lot better nowadays, I'm curious as well.

[newracer]

I am not sure how the price compares because ours came with our new house build.

We have a Rinnai unit and it can provide enough hot water for two showers to run at a time. Water pressure is usually the limiting factor. Another factor is the temp of the incoming water. If it is really cold there might be problems. The only other downside is teenagers tend to take extra long showers, but the press of a single button shuts the unit off.

You do have to flush the unit with vinegar periodically to remove scale buildup on the heating element. Takes 3-4 gallons of vinegar and about 2 hours. You do need a pump and hoses, I think I paid about $50 for my stuff. I have been doing it annually. Also need to clean the filter annually, takes 5 minutes.


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[Firehaus]

I've had a Rinnai before, water pressure was an issue.

I'd go this route if it was me. Best of both worlds and the ducting requirements are less last time i checked.

https://www.alpinehomeair.com/viewproduct.cfm?productID=453071476&linkfrom=froogle&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIztOGgdmW1gIVmLjACh2AYQrvEAQYDyAB EgIIy_D_BwE


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[EvilRhino]

If you're replacing 2 50 gallon tanks, you're probably better going tankless. Rinnai, Bosch, etc. It gets to be Chevy vs. ford at some point. Some things to consider is gas line size. Tanks only use about 40k BTUs while tankless use about 200k btu.

They've made great strides in efficiency. It used to be that we had to vent in Stainless Steel due to the exhaust heat. Now they have it when the fresh air intake and exhaust are in 1 pipe and usually PVC.

FWIW, moved into a house with a Rinnai. Last year in a mild month with no furnace use, between the wife and I, we used less than $20/month including taxes and fees.

[Gman]

I picked up a GE branded unit made by Rheem from Home Depot. Has worked out great for us. Lower costs and keeps up with demand.

[Blowby]

That's what I have now. One compromised the wall into the exhaust and steam shot out and condensed in the pipe, dropped down and flooded the basement utility room. Second one has not been keeping up with the hot water demand also replaced pressure release valve twice. They did last over the warranty of 6 years.

I'm looking at AO Smith G12-UT5040NV with a 12 year warranty. Reviews were good and bad, just like the rest. In stock and ready to pick up.

Anyone say Don't Do It!

https://m.lowes.com/pd/A-O-Smith-Signature-Premier-50-Gallon-12-year-Limited-Tall-Natural-Gas-Water-Heater/1000213645

[beast556]

Bradford white if you want years of trouble free hot water. 16 years in the trades industry. I would avoid home box stores water heaters most are crap.

[Blowby]

I got a quote for a complete install of Bradford White heaters but the warranty was only 6 years and the price was out of line. I read reviews and had the same results, half bad, half good. This is the dilemma I'm in.

[MarkCO]

A commercial grade high efficiency water heater will cost less in the long run and also run circles around the tankless. I do a water heater failure case about once a week and the cheap big box store WHs and the tankless have lots of failures, usually right when the warranty is up. I would remove a tankless from my house if I had one. In a mountain cabin, I might go that route though.

Westinghouse has a stainless tank one, about $1800, AOSmith has a dual anode blue glass steel tank one that is about $2000. There are others out there as well. They typically have 6-10 year warranties on them. In 5 years, they will pay for the difference over a standard WH and end up being about the same, or less, than tankless without the associated maintenance and risk.

If I was buying today, this is the one I would get for a normal home: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Westinghouse-130-Gal-Hr-6-Year-High-Efficiency-High-Output-Natural-Gas-20-Gal-Hybrid-Water-Heater-100k-BTU-w-Durable-Stainless-Steel-WGRGH20NG100F/302480437