Gas Tank Water Heater Suggestions?

todays labor rates are surely a good reason to DIY things + even taking a day off your regular job can be cost effective if your HANDY!! the internet is a plus as it can quickly "show" you how as seeing a vid or at least pics work best for ME + i commonly watch a U tube more than once for better effect! i actually enjoy DIYing even more since retiring as i have more time + need NOT rush things unlike wken my work day was 12 hrs with the drive to the jobsite. time is $$$$, do you have the time or enough $$$$ to pay a pro??
 
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A O Smith has a higher flow rate than Bradford White so they will keep the hot water flowing longer. I have a 20+ year AO Smith at my house that I just replaced the dip tube on and all 5 of us can shower back to back in the morning.
 
Your two big names that will be premium products are Bradford-White and AO Smith.

Other than that, State and Rheem. That's the four I'd choose from, in that order.

BTW, I have a Rheem, going on 7 years, has worked flawlessly. Before that, all I every put in my house was Bradford White. I put the Rheem in because there's a place in the ATL metro that sells scratch and dent Rheem (Home Depot) stuff and I bought a 50-gal for $300. Throw in another $100 in expansion tank, flex fittings, new ball valve, etc., and I had a new 50-gal water heater for $400.
 
dbias said:
A O Smith has a higher flow rate than Bradford White so they will keep the hot water flowing longer. I have a 20+ year AO Smith at my house that I just replaced the dip tube on and all 5 of us can shower back to back in the morning.
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Huh? A higher flow rate will empty the tank of hot water faster, meaning the hot water won't last as long. And I've never heard of a "higher flow rate" and I've been in the HVAC/Plumbing design business for 30 years. I think you have some info mixed up...
 
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bunnspecial said:
50 gallon gas heater in our house, and I don't think we've ever come close to running out either.

Gas is a whole different beast from electric, and I didn't appreciate just how good they were until living with one.
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We're going to be moving to an electric water heater. I will certainly miss the gas water heater.

Especially when our power is out for 12+ hours and we can still take long showers.
 
Hillbilly Deluxe said:
Huh? A higher flow rate will empty the tank of hot water faster, meaning the hot water won't last as long. And I've never heard of a "higher flow rate" and I've been in the HVAC/Plumbing design business for 30 years. I think you have some info mixed up...
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I think he means recovery rate which is how long it takes to make the next batch of hot water. And yeah, if he had a low enough flow rate on his shower heads or fixtures, the hot water would last longer.
 
Worked in the plumbing field for 40 years. Have found in the past couple years that the Rheem seems to be put together better than the others. Have had warranty problems with Bradford White. State and AO Smith are OK but seem to have a somewhat shorter lifespan and they are both made by the same company. BTW Rheem is usually made in Mexico if that is a consideration for you. In the end there is no glaring difference between any of them.
 
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walterjay said:
Worked in the plumbing field for 40 years. Have found in the past couple years that the Rheem seems to be put together better than the others. Have had warranty problems with Bradford White. State and AO Smith are OK but seem to have a somewhat shorter lifespan and they are both made by the same company. BTW Rheem is usually made in Mexico if that is a consideration for you. In the end there is no glaring difference between any of them.
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Just curious how many anode rods you ended up replacing. Other plumbers I spoke to seem to indicate it wasn't often done.
 
Depending on your location, needs, and installation location, I wouldn't rule out a Hybrid electric. I'm seeing about 1/4 the power use over my traditional resistive tank. Granted, I have just about the 'best case' install scenario that you can get. (In my garage, in the southeast US)
 
benjy said:
todays labor rates are surely a good reason to DIY things + even taking a day off your regular job can be cost effective if your HANDY!! the internet is a plus as it can quickly "show" you how as seeing a vid or at least pics work best for ME + i commonly watch a U tube more than once for better effect! i actually enjoy DIYing even more since retiring as i have more time + need NOT rush things unlike wken my work day was 12 hrs with the drive to the jobsite. time is $$$$, do you have the time or enough $$$$ to pay a pro??
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I know in Louisville after you have a hot water tank installed it has to be inspected by the city...and as usual there is a fee for that..
 
Lubener said:
and depending on water conditions, the rods very often last the entire life of the tank. I never had one needing replacement.
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That's because when the rod goes the tank goes next. So of course once the tank is gone, the rod doesn't need replacement. No one ever really inspects the rod. Did you?
 
walterjay said:
Very few people are interested in replacing their anode rods so it is not done often.
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Kinda explains why there's no interest in this or not many people doing this. Although it's not too much more complicated than changing the oil in a car and it really extends the life of the tank.
 
Wolf359 said:
That's because when the rod goes the tank goes next. So of course once the tank is gone, the rod doesn't need replacement. No one ever really inspects the rod. Did you?
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I pull it out just to see when I replace a tank. I always replace an ancient (18-20 years) tank before it leaks..It all depends on your water. Some rods go, some look fine after a couple decades. Periodic draining if the tank will extend its life more than anything.
 
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Lubener said:
I pull it out just to see when I replace a tank. I always replace an ancient (18-20 years) tank before it leaks..It all depends on your water. Some rods go, some look fine after a couple decades. Periodic draining if the tank will extend its life more than anything.
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Never bothered to drain the tank. The water is fine here, I just replace the anode, get 20+ that way instead of 6-10 without replacing the rod. When draining the tank before in the past, there wasn't really any sediment to drain.
 
Wolf359 said:
Never bothered to drain the tank. The water is fine here, I just replace the anode, get 20+ that way instead of 6-10 without replacing the rod. When draining the tank before in the past, there wasn't really any sediment to drain.
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I get 18-20 years by my choosing without ever replacing an anode rod.
 
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