Anybody had a new gas hot water heater installed lately. I got sticker shock. My current one has finally gone tits up after 23 years.
Gas hot water heater
- Thread starter REELDOC
- Start date
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The newer heaters are about 4" taller, no more three leg heaters, all flat bottoms and
the gas models have flame out safety, too many people storing gas and other flammables in the closet or
next to the heater, has spring loaded shutters that will drop down and shut off air flow to the pilot.
Also have push button igniters like your gas grill.
I am on my third, the original builder grade lasted 16 years, should have changed it after 10.
Got 5 years and 9 months on the second GE unit (by Rheem), started leaking and that was under
the warranty, got my money back and just had to pay the difference for the newer model.
Make copy of your original receipt, put it in a zipper bag, tape the bag to the back of the heater,
you'll thank me for this in about five years when the receipt is needed.
Changing is not hard, use tubing cutter at the in and out lines, leave about 6" so you have
handles to move it after you drain in COMPLETELY otherwise your looking at a back injury.
You don't have to use solder connections these days with the shark connections,
I'm old school and like using propane torch.
the gas models have flame out safety, too many people storing gas and other flammables in the closet or
next to the heater, has spring loaded shutters that will drop down and shut off air flow to the pilot.
Also have push button igniters like your gas grill.
I am on my third, the original builder grade lasted 16 years, should have changed it after 10.
Got 5 years and 9 months on the second GE unit (by Rheem), started leaking and that was under
the warranty, got my money back and just had to pay the difference for the newer model.
Make copy of your original receipt, put it in a zipper bag, tape the bag to the back of the heater,
you'll thank me for this in about five years when the receipt is needed.
Changing is not hard, use tubing cutter at the in and out lines, leave about 6" so you have
handles to move it after you drain in COMPLETELY otherwise your looking at a back injury.
You don't have to use solder connections these days with the shark connections,
I'm old school and like using propane torch.
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If you go tankless, make sure you get someone who knows what they are doing! Ask me how I know.
Can you give me a rough idea of what the tankless goes for? Mine is about 11 years old and I'm getting the feeling some days it's just not up to par as far as heating the water.
There are only 3 Hot Water Heater Manufacturers in the US.
1. Rheem - Home Depot and Independents
2. AO Smith - Lowe's, Kenmore, Whirlpool and Independents
3. Bradford White - Independents only
There was a 4th, American Water Heater (out of Tri-Cities TN area) that was bought in 2005 by AO Smith and the DOJ let it through.
They are the greediest, POS industry I have ever known or would want to. They WANTED the R value change in traditional units so that they could increase the insulation and charge a premium to the wholesalers, distributors and retailers for more profit margin.
IT is sticker shot, but only 3 sources providing a Maslowian need....
1. Rheem - Home Depot and Independents
2. AO Smith - Lowe's, Kenmore, Whirlpool and Independents
3. Bradford White - Independents only
There was a 4th, American Water Heater (out of Tri-Cities TN area) that was bought in 2005 by AO Smith and the DOJ let it through.
They are the greediest, POS industry I have ever known or would want to. They WANTED the R value change in traditional units so that they could increase the insulation and charge a premium to the wholesalers, distributors and retailers for more profit margin.
IT is sticker shot, but only 3 sources providing a Maslowian need....
https://www.lowes.com/pl/Tankless-gas-water-heaters-Water-heaters-Plumbing/4294859098
Depends a lot on flow rate and BTU's. We like ours well enough, once the plumbers got everything put together correctly. Our house has some funky plumbing for some reason and it has been a PITA from the day we moved in.
If you do go tankless, I would suggest installing the small control pad out of the reach of children. Nothing like taking a cold shower because one of the little gremlins hit the off button, lol.
OP
Yep, has to be brought up to code. Had to find a unit that wouldn't require cutting another vent hole above the existing which has to be increased to fit the new vent. Will need expansion tank, yada yada..........................
fuel, got your PM but the unit has already been ordered by my plumber dudes. I'm probably getting a little ripped off but this company is the only one that I allow on the property now. To many knuckle dragging fiddle farts have been here before. Been in construction dang near 45 years and finding it harder and harder to find someone qualified to do a damn thing anymore. I used to do all this crap myself but alas I don't have the patience anymore.
fuel, got your PM but the unit has already been ordered by my plumber dudes. I'm probably getting a little ripped off but this company is the only one that I allow on the property now. To many knuckle dragging fiddle farts have been here before. Been in construction dang near 45 years and finding it harder and harder to find someone qualified to do a damn thing anymore. I used to do all this crap myself but alas I don't have the patience anymore.
You beat me to it!
I was thinking the exact same thing!
Just my 2 cents but I was on track to, as a preventive/efficiency measure, to replace mine with a tankless shortly before Mathew knocked our power out for 8 days. For the first 2 days I was able to take a hot and then warmish shower due a combination of how high I keep mine turned up and the apparently good insulation. Being 11B in a previous life, I can get down with cold aussie showers but the lady on the other hand..... Lets just say we decided to replace with a traditional model and add a French press to the emergency stores. Makes for a better start to the day.
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fishgutzy
Senior Member
We switch permanently to a french press coffee maker after our last coffee maker died. Got the biggest one made. Also have smaller ones for travel.
Good thing about our tankless unit is its gas and only need 115v to run it. As long at there is water pressure and propane even a tiny genny will spark it.
And that’s the ultimate goal. In next home 2 buried 500gal tanks are gonna be part of the deal. 1 for the home, 1 for the whole whole generator.
OP
Well so far the Smith Proline Commercial 40 gal is working el goodo, I repeat so far. Taking a good while for the burner and vent system to break in. Exhaust smells pretty bad, lots of soot above outdoor vent.
OP
Well, well...... I started looking a little harder at the heater today and low and behold the geniuses planted a natural gas heater instead of a propane. Called them up and they showed up post haste. Will have new heater next week. I just didn't think exhaust could smell that bad and make that much soot. I'm used to working with industrial stuff so now I have an education on residential.
OP
You're good fuel............ Your post spurred my curiosity. There are some em bare assed folks at the plumber place. When I retire from big construction I'm going back to residential school LOLLOL.