Electric water heater recommendation

tamer

Hi folks,
I’m a home owner who buys rheem electric water heaters for the past 15 years and they don’t last. Recently after 5 years. They leak from the sides. Most of my installations use city water. 

What water heater brand do you recommend? I’m looking for reliable electric water heater. Tankless water heater is not an option for me due to the setup. Thanks 

psb75

Heat pump water heater. Not a Rheem though (for obvious reasons). Bradford White or A.O. Smith/State are other brands to consider.
You might want to watch the status of your anode rods. Or get a recommendation about water chemistry issues from a knowledgable person.

pecmsg

X-2 on the HPWH. at 2 or 3 times more efficient over straight electric not a long payback period.

Larry Weingarten

I'll add that anodes being used up and water pressure are two of the biggest killers of water heaters. In softened water, the anode can be completely gone in six months. Pressure can damage the glass lining, so the anode must work harder to protect the tank.

Yours, Larry

MikeL_2

   Consider replacing the sacrificial anode with a powered anode in the new water heater, and, include an expansion tank as part of the new installation.......

hot_rod

The Rheem Marathon is a plastic tank with lifetime warranty

ethicalpaul

I was going to mention the Rheem Marathon that Bob named above. I bought one and installed in my old house and I was very impressed with the apparent build quality. I bought it because I couldn't stand the idea of a tank rusting out in a few years.

But their heat pump water heater is really good too (in my limited experience), but I have no idea how it would hold up to your water. Is your water weird?

Larry Weingarten

Hi, I'm waiting for the time Rheem marries a Marathon tank with a heat pump. That would be a nice combination. Nyle makes a separate heat pump that could be hooked up to a Marathon tank: https://www.nyle.com/water-heating-systems/e-series/ That too would be a nice combo. Then it wouldn't much matter all that much what your water quality was.

Yours, Larry

mattmia2

There are a few stainless tanks out there too if you have the right water chemistry A powered anode might be the least expensive option.

hot_rod

Larry Weingarten said:

Hi, I'm waiting for the time Rheem marries a Marathon tank with a heat pump. That would be a nice combination. Nyle makes a separate heat pump that could be hooked up to a Marathon tank: https://www.nyle.com/water-heating-systems/e-series/ That too would be a nice combo. Then it wouldn't much matter all that much what your water quality was.

Yours, Larry

I tried to figure out how to get a heat exchanger into a marathon. The use a small diameter element, so not much access to the tank.

Maybe a Butler Solar Wand down the cold port.

I suspect the tanks will outlast the refrigeration components, the circuit boards
or the wrap around HX on hpwh?

mattmia2

I suspect the heat pump water heaters will suffer the same fate of deffective copper tubing as the 3 dehumidifiers I have with evaporator leaks.

DJD775

Submissions said:

tamer said:

Hi folks,
I’m a home owner who buys rheem electric water heaters for the past 15 years and they don’t last. Recently after 5 years. They leak from the sides. Most of my installations use city water. 

What water heater brand do you recommend? I’m looking for reliable electric water heater. Tankless water heater is not an option for me due to the setup. Thanks 

Hello, Instead of using electric water heaters, why don't you prefer Bathroom infrared heaters? The panel comes with a super white or black glass surface and stainless steel or black towel rails respectively, so there is an option that looks beautiful in every bathroom. This glass panel has IP44 protection class making it suitable to use in bathrooms.

I would like to place my vote for spam of the year

EBEBRATT-Ed

The stone lined electric water heaters like Vaughn last forever at least around here (MA) but they are expensive and heavy.

psb75

I have to move a 30 yr old Vaughn 119 gal. stone-lined tank OUT of cellar...
No fun.

jumper

The OP's problem is depressing. Decades ago electric water tanks lasted for years.
And if heating elements were descaled they'd last as well.