Water heater leaking? Before rushing to purchase a new one, be aware that water heaters come in all shapes and sizes. First you would need to determine whether it is an electric or gas water heater. Then you would want to know how many gallons it holds (if you have a storage tank water heater). Much of the information that you need is on the rating plate that is attached to the front of the unit. You will get the information on the manufacturer, the model, and the serial number. This information is useful to determine whether or not you are still covered by the manufacturer warranty.
Some of the manufacturers have an easy online lookup – for instance, if you have an A.O. Smith water heater, you can click here to look up your warranty. If you have an American water heater, you have to phone 1-800-999-9515 and they will check the warranty for you. Typically, the warranties issued by a plumbing supply house are superior to those issued by big home improvement stores. The warranty issued by the plumbing supply house is a 100% replacement warranty, whereas the big stores prorate the warranty and it loses value each year you have the unit. The big stores also require you to drain and bring the original unit back, but the supply house will activate the warranty based on the plumber’s observation that the tank is leaking.
Of course my blog isn’t complete unless I mention the tankless on demand water heater. These models only heat the water when you ask for it, saving you money on your energy bill. Who wants to heat their water when they are at work or on vacation? Some of these units will qualify for the Mass Save HEAT Loan program and the Gas Networks Rebate program. One rebate is $800.00 – that is a great incentive to promote energy efficiency!
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