What is a good water heater to buy?

[Jodi1980]

I can't find any recommendations in consumer reports. Thanks!

 

[DawnCt]

Buy the size that you think you need. If you use a lot of water, buy a bigger one, but if your hot water consumption is not that high, buy a smaller one. There is no sense in heating more water than you need. Then choose one with the longest warranty. No one wants to replace a water heater too often. I had to replace mine a couple of years ago. It had a very very slow leak and at first I thought that my very dry basement was becoming damp. Then it really leaked. We have a Maytag. I joked at the time that it was the only Maytag appliance we had. Now I have the washer and dryer. It was the one that the oil burner company that I use recommended. The cost of the water heater isn't so bad, its the installation.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.eere.energy.gov/erec/factsheets/watheath.html

 

[djkeenan]

I'm with Dan, efficiency means a lot over the long run.

We had a Rheem installed in our new home last year. I opted for a 50 gal high recovery over the standard 40 gal.

We've found we can be doing laundry or the dishwasher and both take showers at the same time.

 

[mudnuri]

I just get the kind that my power company brings...$5.50 per month...I remember 2 years ago the bottom of our old one rusted out in the middle of the night on a Saturday..I called the emergency number, within 2 hours I had a brand new water heater, and the mess cleaned up and NO BILL!!!...love that part!

Brandy

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Both Rheem & AO Smith are good brands. Just make sure you get a WAGS valve too.

The WAGS valve is designed to shut off the water supply (plus gas supply for gas-fired heaters) in the event of a water leak from a hot water heater, thus minimizing water damage and possible gas leakage. The valve can be installed on all styles of water heaters. The valve is fully mechanical and requires no external power supply.

The WAGS sits in a drip pan under the water heater and is activated when leaking water accumulates to a level of ¾" in the pan. Once activated the valve shuts off the water and gas supply, indicated by a red pop-up tab.

 

[Allie322]

That was going to be my suggestion also.

Annie&Hallie'sMom, you seem very knowledgable about the WAGS valve! I'm wondering if we might have a common friend??