Gas water tank - is the longer warranty worth it?

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Dec 3rd, 2019 9:07 am

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Dec 2nd, 2019 3:07 pm

Bookeroo [OP]: Jr. Member; Feb 25, 2009; 124 posts; 9 upvotes

Dec 2nd, 2019 3:07 pm

Gas water tank - is the longer warranty worth it?

Home Depot has gas water tanks with 12-year warranty. Rheem 40gallon = $878

Lowe's and Rona don't have any with that long a warranty - although they do have some at 9 years. Most are 6 years and a couple hundred bucks less than the 12 year warranty at Home Depot.

Is the 12-year warranty worth it? Is the quality of the product better - more likely to last longer? (I'm not a handyman type - so it will probably not get any extra maintenance/servicing unless it breaks)

tia

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Dec 2nd, 2019 3:53 pm

thriftshopper: Deal Fanatic; Jul 7, 2017; 5653 posts; 2491 upvotes; SW corner of the cou…

Dec 2nd, 2019 3:53 pm

Check what the warranty actually covers. Maybe a replacement tank only, and may be pro-rated at that. Installation (and removal) cost may be almost as much, or more than the cost of the tank.

The often-cited real difference in warranty is the size/weight of the sacrificial anode (or is it cathode) rod. You can inspect/change this yourself (must be done regularly so it doesn't seize in the tank) but that assumes you have enough height to pull the rod out (nearly the height of the tank). If water is soft and mineral-free, the tank may last quite a long time, longer with the sacrificial rod.

Cream rises to the top. So does scum.

+2

Dec 2nd, 2019 4:06 pm

grumble: Deal Addict; Mar 22, 2017; 1242 posts; 1293 upvotes; West GTA

Dec 2nd, 2019 4:06 pm

It's worth checking your insurance - some won't insure against failure from water heaters over a certain age. That would make the warranty period somewhat moot - if your water heater fails and floods your basement and you can't claim against it, you'll wish you'd just replaced it instead of buying a 'long lasting' one you had to replace after 9y anyways.

For the other part of the question, the 12-year ones SOMETIMES have better construction - mostly just better sacrificial anodes, possibly more than one rod or a better rod, but sometimes other parts are a bit nicer (better fittings, etc). Sometimes the water heaters are literally identical and you're just buying the warranty, that's it - they just apply the right sticker on installation.

If you drain your water heater each year and change the anode every five years, your water heater may well last 20 years.

+2

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:09 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 15633 posts; 16777 upvotes; Oakville

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:09 pm

They make fibreglass tanks if you want one that will never rust. $$$ though.

Win a PS5 with RFD!

+1

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:24 pm

thriftshopper: Deal Fanatic; Jul 7, 2017; 5653 posts; 2491 upvotes; SW corner of the cou…

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:24 pm

engineered wrote: ↑ They make fibreglass tanks if you want one that will never rust. $$$ though.

For gas heaters?

Cream rises to the top. So does scum.

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:33 pm

Bookeroo [OP]: Jr. Member; Feb 25, 2009; 124 posts; 9 upvotes

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:33 pm

thanks for the extra knowledge. There is not enough room in the height of the basement to pull out a rod like that. Not even close. So, good to know that isn't an option for us!

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:41 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 15633 posts; 16777 upvotes; Oakville

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:41 pm

Bookeroo wrote: ↑ thanks for the extra knowledge. There is not enough room in the height of the basement to pull out a rod like that. Not even close. So, good to know that isn't an option for us!

They also make anode rods with flexible links, so you could do that.

Win a PS5 with RFD!

+3

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:48 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 15633 posts; 16777 upvotes; Oakville

Dec 2nd, 2019 5:48 pm

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ For gas heaters?

I'm not sure about that. But eventually the electrode in an electric tank will also fail.

Here's some interesting videos on water tanks.

Win a PS5 with RFD!

+2

Dec 2nd, 2019 6:02 pm

thriftshopper: Deal Fanatic; Jul 7, 2017; 5653 posts; 2491 upvotes; SW corner of the cou…

Dec 2nd, 2019 6:02 pm

Bookeroo wrote: ↑thanks for the extra knowledge. There is not enough room in the height of the basement to pull out a rod like that. Not even close. So, good to know that isn't an option for us!

engineered wrote: ↑ They also make anode rods with flexible links, so you could do that.

Only if the anode was changed to flexible links before installation (or break off the old one if it has not corroded away)?

Cream rises to the top. So does scum.

Dec 2nd, 2019 6:13 pm

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 15633 posts; 16777 upvotes; Oakville

Dec 2nd, 2019 6:13 pm

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ Only if the anode was changed to flexible links before installation (or break off the old one if it has not corroded away)?

Yea, I would expect that you could bend/cut the old anode to remove it. If it's done its job, there shouldn't be much left anyhow. In the one video I posted, it had shrunk to the size of a pencil.

Win a PS5 with RFD!

Dec 3rd, 2019 9:07 am

StealthFinder: Deal Addict; Jul 6, 2007; 2514 posts; 1541 upvotes; Niagara On The Lake

Dec 3rd, 2019 9:07 am

I too am in the market for a 50 gallon Gas vented Hot Water Tank. I can hear the 16 year old Rheem powervent residential gas water heater tank is running but there is no hot water coming. Any thoughts or suggestions?

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