A good hot water heater used to last about 20 years. Now … not so much. Now warranties typically expire after about five years. We’ve been in business long enough to remember when a company would warranty their product for 10. And even then, they lasted well beyond the warranty. We install Bradford White water heaters because the warranty covers both the tank and parts for six years. You can pay additional for a 10 years. That’s a good warranty.
The date of installation is usually located on a panel on the side of the tank. If you don’t have access to warranty information, having that installation date can help your local plumber determine (with the help of the manufacturer) how long it should be covered in the event it ends up leaking or otherwise needs to be replaced.
So, if it’s time for a new water heater, what are your options?
It’s a good idea to have your plumber come and take look at your particular situation and offer suggestions on the most efficient and least expensive options available to you.
If you previously used gas or electric, those choices are often the best to keep so that new gas lines or electrical hook ups don’t add to your total bill. Some homeowners do occasionally switch from electrical to gas or vice-versa, but that is unusual and costly. Generally, the factors you should consider are:
- Size of the tank in gallons and size of area for installation
- Conventional gas or electric
- High Efficiency Water Heater
- Tankless Water Heaters
Many energy efficient models exist today. Savings on water and energy are increased with a tankless water heaters. But, it’s important to understand that the initial investment will run considerably more than other models. Why?
There’s More Involved With Tankless Water Heater Installation
What they don’t talk enough about at home improvement stores are the necessary requirements of tankless installation. Water is heated only as used/needed. Unlike conventional methods that cycle heat on and off to maintain temperature, a tankless heats only as needed and as more flow rate is needed (when you turn the shower on harder.) The BTU demand will vary from 15,000 BTU to 199,000 BTU to keep the temperature constant.
That means the gas line into your home needs to be capable of bringing in enough gas to actually provide that BTU. Gas must come in through the correct size pipe, and then be dispensed at safe rates throughout the home for all gas appliances to work safely and effectively. That involves comprehensive knowledge of code and a detailed understanding of how gas flows. Anyone who tells you that you just pop in a gas tankless hot water heater and you’re ‘good to go’ is giving you wrong information.
Electric Tankless Water Heaters
Electric tankless water heaters need to be able to heat to the degree that at least two or three faucets throughout the home can access unlimited amounts of hot water at the same time. Gas does the job better because it heats faster and hotter than electric. For a smaller home with few occupants, an electric tankless might be fine. But even then, power is still a consideration. You can’t just replace a standard electric tank type with a tankless because it will take an electrician to install more power.
We love them because all in all, tankless water heaters are a greener choice, and they do pay for themselves over time. They save money on your gas bill, water bill, and electric bill – that is substantial. Generally speaking, tankless water heaters carry a manufacturer’s warranty that covers one year on labor, five years on parts, and 12-15 years on the heat exchanger. Expect them to last about 20 years. Our customers are very happy with their tankless models and the additional space it usually frees up in their home.
What is an Energy Efficient Hot Water Heater?
Generally, efficiency is based on the amount of power it takes to heat water to a given level. Standard tank type models run about 51% while tankless can run as high as 98% efficient.
An apple for apple replacement is an easy decision to make, but if you have questions regarding these other options, make sure you call Gary’s Quality Plumbing at 972-424-6479 to discuss them. We can give you good advice for your situation, and will be happy to discuss the parameters of your particular circumstance. You can also leave your questions or comments below along with your contact information, and we will be happy to respond.
Remember, Gary’s Quality Plumbing is licensed, insured and will make sure your installation is done properly. It will be done with the required permit and city inspection. This is another layer of protection to insure safety for your home!
Nice article Gary very informative
Do 3 year gas 40 gallon water heaters last a shorter time than a 6 year, or is there some trick the manufacturers are playing ? I read that 6 yr and 12 yr are sometimes the exact same tank, but you are really just paying for an extended warranty. Is it the same way with the 3 and 6 year ? Thanks very much for your thoughts.
Gary, thanks for your question. The water heater tanks are the same. Yes, you are actually just paying for a longer warranty. The manufacturer feels safe with the regular time for the warranty of 6 years so that is included in the price. We install Bradford White water heaters which normally have the 6 year warranty on the tank AND the parts. This is not the standard as most brands do a 2 year on the parts. And the tank will be the same if you want a 10 year warranty. It will just be an added cost to the installation.
If under warranty, do I have to have the same plumber install it for the warranty to be good?
No, you just need to provide the make, model, and serial number to the plumber you wish to have check it. With that information the plumber you choose will be able to tell if it is still under warranty and can go ahead and make a repair. The plumber will charge for the service call and labor to repair and the parts and you will be reimbursed by the manufacturer. The plumber will get authorization to make needed repair from the manufacturer before proceeding.
If you are in our area and have a Bradford White water heater installed the labor to repair is covered for the first 2 years and all the repair parts for 6 – so if in those time limits you will not be charged for our service to repair. After 2 years the labor is no longer covered and the hourly rate applies.