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njwater
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Posted: Mon Jan 28th, 2008 04:35 pm |
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We have a residential heater which is leaking. Current one is manufactured by A. Smith, and the capacity is 50 gal.
I looked at the suggestion on what is the best heater, and also visited Home Depot and Lowes. This is what I found and need some help to decide on what to buy.
1. Lowes stores do not carry GE brand which is suggested on this site. They carry only Whirlpool brand. The prices are almost same for the sizes. Should I buy Whirlpool (Lowes is near our residence).
2. Should I buy a 6 year warranty heater with an extended service contract or buy 12 year warranty heater?
3. Lowes heater has energy factor as 0.58 while i do not find that factor on Home depot site. Should I assume the same factor for GE if the price are almost same?
Thanks in advance for the help,
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elenano
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Posted: Mon Jan 28th, 2008 05:06 pm |
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Don't assume things like EF based on similar price. They could be quite different. Second, I do not think an extended service contract is the same as a longer warranty, which has more to do with how long the water heater will last. Twelve-year usually means two anodes, so you can judge whether it's cheaper to buy a 12-year-warranty tank or buy a six and add your own anode.
Whirlpool tanks use aluminum anodes, which we don't like for reasons explained on the Anode page elsewhere. Also, if you go down a few posts and read the string Ignorance Is Not Bliss, you'll see a post by somebody warning about a Whirlpool recall.
We also have some reservations about GE heaters, too, although if it's a race between Whirlpool and GE, we'd probably choose GE. But we're not going to choose for you. You have to take into consideration the things that concern us, but also the things that concern you. Read what we've prepared, but also go to the water heater manufacturers' sites and read their spec sheets, then decide.
Randy Schuyler
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njwater
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Posted: Mon Jan 28th, 2008 06:41 pm |
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Randy,
Thanks for the great info. Based on some of the information here, I am considering 50 gallon GE with 6 year warranty. The reason for GE is taken from your page:
"The tank should have a hex-head, magnesium anode rod in its own threaded port. That means there is room in the hot-outlet port for a second anode (that's one of those extra parts).
You install it simply by screwing it in. That will give you the equivalent of a 12-year-warranty tank for a lot less money. Maybe better than 12-year. Do not add a second anode, however, if you are getting an aluminum/zinc anode for odor problems. It may make the situation worse.
Which brands fall into this category? All tanks of Rheem and its sub-brands: Ruud/Richmond/GE. "
I am planning to buy the extra rod from your site, however you mention:
"Do not add a second anode, however, if you are getting an aluminum/zinc anode for odor problems. It may make the situation worse"
How do I make sure if there is aluminum/zinc anode? Just by looking at it (the hex vs. flat top) or from the specification (HD website does not give this info.)?
The heater I am considering is here
Last edited on Mon Jan 28th, 2008 06:42 pm by njwater
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elenano
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 01:50 am |
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I did try the link, but got a Home Depot error page, whatever that is. It couldn't show me the heater. Anyway, though, if it's a Rheem/Ruud/Richmond/GE, it will have a magnesium anode.
You haven't said anything about odor problems, so I presume that isn't an issue. If you had them, you'd know it. The smell is usually described as like rotten eggs!
Randy Schuyler
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njwater
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 04:15 pm |
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No, so far we don't have any odor problem.
I did find two things though: The 12 year warranty heater showed that the energy it wil use is about $140 per year vs. the 6 year one has the approx. usage charges of 170/yr. Would that be because of higher(thicker0 insulation or seomthing else?
Try this link, all the GE heaters are here.
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elenano
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 06:11 pm |
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That's harder to say. GE isn't terribly forthcoming about how much insulation its models have. I recently went to its site and a couple of other makers and looked at specs and the others showed one and two inches, approximating R-8 and R-16. Rheem didn't offer that information.
I asked Rheem a year or two ago why they had stopped listing the R factor on the label and they said they thought EF was a more accurate measure and comprised not only insulation, but other factors as well. So I don't know if your figures mean more insulation or those other factors.
Randy Schuyler
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Squ1rrel
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 10:07 pm |
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| Randy, incase anyone asks again, when Lowe's and other places offer an extended warranty for a water heater, it is only on the labor portion of the water heater, to bring up to match the parts. in other words, a 6 year water heater heater with the warranty would have 6 years parts and labor, vs. 6 years parts and 1 year labor Last edited on Tue Jan 29th, 2008 10:09 pm by Squ1rrel
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elenano
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Posted: Wed Jan 30th, 2008 02:45 am |
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Thank you. When I started The Tank, I thought I was an expert on water heaters. After a few months of posts, I began to realize there were boatloads of things I didn't know about them! It's nice to be able to learn things I didn't know, as well as help with things I do.
Randy Schuyler
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