Nat Gas Water heater: which brand

redtom

Well-known Member

Well I think my gas valve is toast on my nat gas 40 gal. Not leaking so not too much rush. Is any brand any better than the other? Most are probably made in the same factory. NOT buying a Whirlpool! Which is best?
 
Replace the valve if the tank isn't leaking. A new one won't last as long as the one you have with a new valve. :cry:
 
(quoted from post at 20:30:25 04/15/13) Whirlpool
Rheem
Bradford White
I have a Whirlpool and will not buy another

AO Smith are good too. But I wouldn't replace this water heater right now.
 
Yah, but how much is a new valve? The tank is 10 yrs old (9 year warranty). They say avg life is 13 yrs with city water...so...the big question is...?
 
I have a White and it's over ten years. Just a little side note. At the local flee market yesterday I saw the cutest little thing. Guy was selling a brand new 2 1/2 gallon 115v under counter water heater. It had all of the fittings and the pressure release valve with it. It looked like a little toy! Jeffcat
 
GSW is a water heater manufacturer from Canada. They make their heaters different than any of the others. They weld up the whole tank and all the tappings, THEN they apply the "glass" coating. This insures the glass coats ALL the interior of the tank. All the others roll the sheet steel, weld it into a tube, apply "glass" and weld the tappings after. This leaves raw uncoated areas that can corrode sooner. Your heater tank life depends on many factors, how aggressive your water is, temp settings, use, and how often it is cleaned out. There is a Langolier water test to check aggressiveness. GSW also markets under the name of John Wood and others.
 
State water heaters work well for me. They build heaters for many other brands too.

Most plumbing shops have a line of old water heaters waiting to be hauled to a salvge yard. The tanks are rusted through, but gas valves are usually still good. If you bring along your old valve number they probably have a replacement.
 
I have one of those right under my bathroom, so I get hot water right away. The main heater is 60 feet away, they are piped in series, work great.
 

I saw many different tanks in customers basements. It seemed like Rheems got replaced a lot less often than states.
 
Go to craigslist and buy a used one.
Mine was leaking so I found a used 40 gal on CL for $100 that was nearly new. They replaced it during a remodel and put in a bigger one.
I can almost replace a WH with my eyes closed so if I get even a couple of years out of it I'm ahead of the game.
 
I had a previuos post (lengthy). Pilot flame too small and weak, goes out often. Everything cleaned SEVERAL times, good venting etc. Non adjustable at valve.
 
(quoted from post at 08:17:58 04/17/13) I had a previuos post (lengthy). Pilot flame too small and weak, goes out often. Everything cleaned SEVERAL times, good venting etc. Non adjustable at valve.

So what was under the plug you were talking about, nothing?
 
I had a new water heater,in the milk house, that acted like that.
After about a year I had the Gas Utility that we got it from come and look at it. It had a L.P. orifice in the pilot burner. The service guy put a new natural gas orifice in it. It never went out again.

Dusty
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top