Water Heater - Rheem or A.O.?

[SHEP]

Is there a difference in the two or are both shit?

Thanks,

SHEP

 

[HNL2LHC]

I hope that Rheem is better as we just put a tankless unit from them in our Hawaii home. The GC in Havasu poo poo’d the idea of tankless for several reasons. I think mostly they are set in their ways and would have to learn something new.

 

[Marine Industries West]

AO or Bradford White. Bought a Rheem a couple years ago, didn't last three days. Of course Home Depot says you have to go direct to Rheem for any warranty. They are back east. They had to order parts and send plumber to repair, that was 4 days on cold water showers. And plumber got to the end of the street and it was still broke. Had to wait another three days for the to get a control module. Lesson learned. When looking up Rheem you find they have horrific reviews.

 

[TPC]

AO. Lowes last I bought one.

 

[Riverbound]

Bradford white is the best.
Rheem and AO are mid level.

 

[NicPaus]

Bradford white!

If you get a AO get it from the supply house not lowes.

They are currently selling the ao cheap at my local supplier as they are 2 years old and old stock. Nobody wants to deal with AO or rheem warranty. Bradford white is easy.

 

[Mandelon]

The Rheem warranty is good. Because they fail often. If you end up with one, they will mail you replacement parts after a phone interrogation. They will let you take them back to HD and pick up a replacement. But labor is on you. I would go with a different brand.

 

[Backlash]

I bought a Rheem not knowing what I know today. It's worked but it is only four years old and I've already had to address some silly problems. Supply House said they are problematic at best. Buy something else if you can.

 

[DLC]

I had a Rheem and got rheemed!

Lasted 2.5 years then just keeps shutting off - hot water at bedtime & no hot water in the morning!

Bought a Bradford white me took an hour to install it. Works great !

Gave the Rheem to my plumber …. Not sure what he did w/ it ….

 

[PlumLoco]

My last two A.O. water heaters both went between 15-20 years. Never checked the anode. When I had to replace the water heater in the current house, it was an easy decision to make.

 

[NicPaus]

The AO at Lowes and supply house are not the same. Same with a pro series rheem from supply house compared to HD.

Rheem closes at 3pm ca time. If you need a warranty part have to call back the next morning. Then 2-3 days for them to send it. I have a rheem in the back of my plumbing rig now. It leaked but still worked. The pan drain nut wasn't tight and it caused a lot of water damage. Replaced it Friday night with a Bradford white.

 

[Mandelon]

I had a Rheem and got rheemed!

Lasted 2.5 years then just keeps shutting off - hot water at bedtime & no hot water in the morning!

Bought a Bradford white me took an hour to install it. Works great !

Gave the Rheem to my plumber …. Not sure what he did w/ it ….

He returned it to Home Depot and got a $600 credit.

 

[Mandelon]

Read the Serial Number off the side of the failed Rheem tank. Call their 800 number. They will check to see if it is warranteed. If under the six or nine year period it will be. Tell them it leaks from inside. They will question you thoroughly but eventually agree to replace it. They will give you a transaction number by email. Take that email and the water heater to HD at the return desk. You get store credit for the cost of the water heater when it was purchased.

 

[DLC]

He returned it to Home Depot and got a $600 credit.

He might have ….


He stopped by to check out my install and saw it sitting there - I said make it go by by

 

[NicPaus]

He might have ….


He stopped by to check out my install and saw it sitting there - I said make it go by by

Probably called in to rheem and gave the serial number and waited 3 days and fixed it. Problem is most customers won't wait 3 days. Tenants never will.

 

[Keymyster]

Bradford White. Rheem makes water heaters models just for Home Depot and they’re trash.

 

[havasujeeper]

Rheem Professional series has a better burner.

Or just get a Bradford White

 

[DRYHEAT]

FWIW my house was built with an A.O. Smith that lasted 18 years, I’ve put in three Rheem’s since. First one lasted six years the warranty one they gave me at Home Depot lasted four years. The third one I’m getting concerned about, planning on maybe installing a tankless.

 

[NicPaus]

FWIW my house was built with an A.O. Smith that lasted 18 years, I’ve put in three Rheem’s since. First one lasted six years the warranty one they gave me at Home Depot lasted four years. The third one I’m getting concerned about, planning on maybe installing a tankless.

I just got certified for Navien. And put a new Bradford white in at my house. Unless you have a big family or like 45 minute showers. Not sure it's worth it. Avg price here for 1 with a circ pump $6600.

 

[DRYHEAT]

I just got certified for Navien. And put a new Bradford white in at my house. Unless you have a big family or like 45 minute showers. Not sure it's worth it. Avg price here for 1 with a circ pump $6600.

Mainly just wanted more room in my garage. But I’m not gonna spend that kind of money. I’ve got an electrician friend that can wire me up. Maybe I’ll just buy one of the cheapies and replace it often.

 

[SixD9R]

Rheem from Home Depot are junk. I’ve been through a few of them over the 29 years since I built my home. One thing for certain is the one I have now will be the last Rheen POS. The second last time I installed one (electric, not gas) I turned the water on to let it fill up while I was connecting the electric supply and water started leaking out at the power connection. Probably a good thing I didn’t have the power back on at the point lol. So now I had to rip the POS back out and run to the cheapo to get a new one and install again.

 

[DRYHEAT]

Rheem from Home Depot are junk. I’ve been through a few of them over the 29 years since I built my home. One thing for certain is the one I have now will be the last Rheen POS. The second last time I installed one (electric, not gas) I turned the water on to let it fill up while I was connecting the electric supply and water started leaking out at the power connection. Probably a good thing I didn’t have the power back on at the point lol. So now I had to rip the POS back out and run to the cheapo to get a new one and install again.

Unfortunately, my water heaters never seemed to die in the summertime. It’s usually the winter when I really enjoy hot water. it never fails, my water heater is only go out on Saturday night or Sunday morning, I end up settling for the ream because that’s what’s gonna fit in there easiest and quickest. A plumber I am not. I can’t afford to have a professional plumber install a water heater, have you seen the boats they drive?

 

[DLC]

My water heater history in Escondido -


Mom & dad bought the house in 1976 we moved from Mira mesa
I remember driving up with my dad & our neighbor from Mira mesa and installing the water before we moved in way back then ….

I bought the house off M &D in 1996 and in 2003 was thinking I need to swap out the original WH from 1976 ….

I’m on my 3rd water heater from 2003 !

 

[Maw]

Remodeled the Huntington Beach house 18 years ago, installed a Rheem tankless then and haven't had a single problem. Maybe the quality then vs. now?

 

[NicPaus]

On YouTube they have videos of the supply house water heaters vs lowes-home depot.

If i recall the same size AO is 9 lbs lighter from lowes. They disect it and weigh each part.
The biggest noticeable difference is the drain. Plastic vs a brass ball valve

Many items that are like that. A 1/4 turn brasscraft angle stop is plastic internal vs stainless. Priced the same. Different handle so easy to spot the difference.

Faucets. Plastic internals instead of brass. Plastic supply lines instead of braided stainless. Huge difference in weight.

Get what you pay for doesn't apply either as they are pretty much priced the same on most items except faucets.

 

[THE WIDGE]

Thoughts on tankless water heaters in Havasu? I know nothing about tankless, but was thinking about it last week. I think the previous owner had temp at a very low temp and hot water is gone after 2 showers in the cold months. Fine in summer. Guessing need to bump it up some, but seems like a waste of energy to maintain on something I don’t use much. I think I read maintaining a higher temp shortens life of heater , especially with hard water.

 

[Mandelon]

I put a Rinnai Continuum Tankless in about 20 years ago. It is 98% flawless. Had one issue from dust in the closet due to the dryer vent. LOL, fixed that and no issues since. I circulate the cleaning solution every few years. I would never go back to a tank unit.

 

[Racer56]

Thoughts on tankless water heaters in Havasu? I know nothing about tankless, but was thinking about it last week. I think the previous owner had temp at a very low temp and hot water is gone after 2 showers in the cold months. Fine in summer. Guessing need to bump it up some, but seems like a waste of energy to maintain on something I don’t use much. I think I read maintaining a higher temp shortens life of heater , especially with hard water.

The hard water in Havasu scales the heating element quickly and they stop working.

 

[NicPaus]

I would invest in filtration first if doing a tankless.

Navien extends the warranty 1 year if you use 1 of there filters.

Some manufacturers will not warranty them without a filters.

I have a small take out noritz I just replaced. If someone wants it. It worked but inconsistent. Most likely the flow sensor due to hard water. No filters and it was never flushed in 10 years. I was going to open it up to look at the sensor.

 

[River Dirt 2]

Doing a new one currently__