The dimensions and weights were significantly different for the one I bought compared to the same capacity AO Smith at Lowe's. Both "tall" units. Both of them are made in different areas of the same manufacturing facility on the same campus in Johnson City, TN. They aren't the same units at all.
Box store vs supply house water heaters
- Thread starter GON
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What is significant when it came to weight and dimensions? I highly doubt that there are different manufacturing areas for the internal tanks for box store and plumbing supply houses. Other than tank size and height, there are no differences.
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My neighbors just installed one of the tankless instant hot water heaters . They seem to like it so that will probably be what I go with next time. Electric instead of gas though.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
My gas tankless had to be on the outside wall of my garage due to the need for venting the spent gas fumes. It sucks being mounted out there. Anything below 20 degrees and I have to leave the hot water dripping on the faucets or else I’ve got a frozen pipe. At this point I would be happy with a traditional tank electric water heater mounted in a closet in the house. At least all the pipes are better protected.
My nat gas Rinnai has a vent that goes through the garage wall. I assume they could not poke a hole through your wall for some reason?
Bradford -White is the third manufacturer OP was trying to recall. They are only available via plumbing supply contractor only supply houses.
Here is the story: COSTCO to replace Ferguson HQ
No, the builder did vent it through the garage wall with the unit mounted on the inside of that wall in the garage. My problem is that in that wall there’s just enough insulation between those two studs to pass code inspection and the supply and return pipes run across the ceiling of the garage which isn’t required to have any insulation. There’s no access panel in the garage ceiling. I’m sure I could cut one although it’s 14 feet high and my 67 year old self ain’t getting up there to do it. I reckon I can hire it done and get those pipes insulated properly. This is a Covid era built house where the county building inspectors did not show up on site. The contractors could just send photos of their work. I’m sure they all had stock photos that would pass the most intense scrutiny. While I’m ranting..the “electrician” who wired the house could not read or write in English. My circuit breaker panel was marked like my 5 year old granddaughter writes. Fortunately another electrician was here doing a project for me took the time to properly label all the circuit breakers. He did this to keep me and other electricians from getting electrocuted. I’m now faced with digging up my septic system because of issues. Another story… Moral of this story…don’t buy ANYTHING built during Covid.
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Interesting A/B comparison and some good info. Just checked the Lowes website for 40-gallon gas hot water heater and the cheapest option (3-year warranty) still costs more than the big box price mentioned in the video. Personally, would never by the cheapest water heater, given labor costs to install/replace.
Have read elsewhere that all the water heaters of same capacity are essentially identical. You just pay more for the longer warranty. Would be interested to see A/B/C comparison of same brand and capacity to determine if this is true for the different warranty levels. I suspect there are better AO Smith big box 40-gallon water heaters available that would better compare to the Pro-Grade, but no evidence. For instance, there is a 9-year warrantied tall 40-gallon AO Smith for $679 at Lowes.
Just saying one needs to have a fair A/B comparison for a truly scientific conclusion that we can all value.
Have read elsewhere that all the water heaters of same capacity are essentially identical. You just pay more for the longer warranty. Would be interested to see A/B/C comparison of same brand and capacity to determine if this is true for the different warranty levels. I suspect there are better AO Smith big box 40-gallon water heaters available that would better compare to the Pro-Grade, but no evidence. For instance, there is a 9-year warrantied tall 40-gallon AO Smith for $679 at Lowes.
Just saying one needs to have a fair A/B comparison for a truly scientific conclusion that we can all value.
Actually, I go the opposite and get the 6 yr warranties. I have used State and Rheem with the six yr warranties go at least 9 years. Sears (State) went 20 years before leaking in our house and most recent purchase three years ago. It got replaced by a Bradford White so we will see how that brand goes. Our family now has Bradford White in all our properties, based on plumber recommendations and availability.
AO Smith absorbed several manufacturers, including State. The new units are rebadged as AO Smith, but they are still, more or less, units of a different brand.
The unit I bought shows a shipping weight 16 pound heavier than the one at Lowes. It's six inches taller, and, perhaps most significantly, five inches wider.
I have a Rheem Platinum Performace 12 year warranty from Home Depot that I installed in 2014 for about $500. I have had no problems since I put it in. I don't think I can ask for much more? In my previous house I replace with a Richmond from Menards and it worked great.
Elkins45
Site Donor 2026
Our original unit from 2000 sprung a leak in 2015 so I went to Lowe’s and bought a similarity sized replacement, I believe it’s a Westinghouse. At the time we owned a second home that was unoccupied and it occurred to me it would make sense to have a spare ready for it so a few months later I bought a second one. This time the cashier at Lowe's pulled out a binder and made me sign it with my name and address, saying the state of Kentucky required them to collect this information. ???
Anyway, when we sold the other house I kept the water heater so it’s sitting in a box in the basement waiting for the current one to fail.
Anyway, when we sold the other house I kept the water heater so it’s sitting in a box in the basement waiting for the current one to fail.
We do have Ferguson supply houses around here and that's the main one I was thinking of in regards to contractor-only sales or if they sell to the public. They do have a website that indicates what is in stock at each location, price, etc.
Same here. Cost-wise, it would make the most sense to buy the one with the shortest warranty and cross your fingers that it lasts as long as the (same) one with the longest warranty. This of course only applies if you DIY the replacement. Plus, who actually warranties their water heater ? I really don't know the specifics of how they handle this, who determines what really failed and if it's covered, and so on. Unless you catch it failing or leaking and replace it before it's 100% out, you just want/need a replacement NOW.
Generally a big DIYer on anything and everything that I can manage, but I have learned it's also important to recognize your limitations. In my case negotiating the basement stairs for removal and replacement of the heavy old/new one is the barrier I am most concerned about. Have settled on the AO Smith brand for the replacement when the time comes. Currently have a Sears Kenmore Power Miser 12 50-gallon gas tall unit that has lasted for over 15 years and still going strong, touch wood, although starting to show it's age by running out of hot water sooner than I expect after a couple of showers and a run of the dishwasher.
Will contact some local contractors to see which brands they carry. From memory last time I tried, Bradford White seemed to have sown up the contractor market in my area. In the end I went to Sears and had them install the Kenmore. Expensive overall at the time, ($1000+ with flue vent installation) but in hindsight I am happy with the decision.
Will contact some local contractors to see which brands they carry. From memory last time I tried, Bradford White seemed to have sown up the contractor market in my area. In the end I went to Sears and had them install the Kenmore. Expensive overall at the time, ($1000+ with flue vent installation) but in hindsight I am happy with the decision.
YES! I think we are speculating a LOT in this thread with no real data, especially regarding AO Smith brands discussed in the video. AO Smith operates 5 U.S. plants, as well as global operations. Their umbrella includes GSW (Canada), John Wood (Canada), State , American, Reliance, Lochinvar, and U.S. Craftmaster. One site "claims" that the Lowes AO Smith water heaters are made at the Johnson City TN plant, not their main plant in Ashland City TN. IF true, it might explain Lowes version vs. pro/jobber version. How much of the acquired name brand technology (I.E., Lochinvar) did AO Smith keep or abandon? How are we to know?????
Maybe Rheem is more vertically integrated and there might be fewer differences between box store and pro?? Bradford White has no box store presence to my knowledge.
FYI, Bradford White is available to the public at Ferguson, at least in Michigan. My gripe with Bradford White is that the anode rod is integrated into the hot water outlet making it more difficult to change. I bought our 2017 Bradford White simply because it's made in Michigan.
My internet research leans towards Rheem as the slightly better purchase choice of the three brands??? Also, contractors probably buy the most convenient brand, not necessarily the best.
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I replaced the water heater in our beach house 11 years ago with a 50 gallon electric Westinghouse from Lowe's. Changed the anode rod twice with those flexible anode rods on Amazon for $30 or so.
I flush it every 2-3 years. Works fine. If/when it goes, I'm paying the local HVAC plumbing outfit...I'm not lugging water heaters up/down stairs anymore.
I flush it every 2-3 years. Works fine. If/when it goes, I'm paying the local HVAC plumbing outfit...I'm not lugging water heaters up/down stairs anymore.
Problem is your warranty fizzled away.