Recommendation for HW heater

if you are going with a standard direct fired water heater

then try Bradford White.

Look for the highest efficiency rating your budget will allow.

The direct-fired water heater is usually the third or fourth largest consumer of energy in your home. The low end models are barely able to meet the basic requirements, and even if you get one of those insulating blankets, it won't help much. Better, higher efficiency models last longer and cost less to operate, even though they cost more up front. Look for the EnergyStar rating sticker.

Adding a whole-house mixing valve will minimize the danger of elderly people or small children scalding themselves, and allow you to operate your water heater at a higher temperature, keeping Legionella under control. If you really want to get creative, a direct line can be run to your dishwasher and laundry, bypassing the mixing valve so your dishwasher & washing machine get hotter water. Just make sure the sinks aren't on the same piping run. Finally, a nice luxury touch is a constant hot water system that consists of a pump, timer and a bypass valve. The timer starts the pump, and hot water is instantly available at the showers or sinks, elimating the 10 gallons or so that get wasted while waiting for the water to warm up. It then shuts down until the next period you set.

No question about it.

Indirect domestic HW heaters have 180 degree or less water heating 50 degree water. Much less thermal stress than a 2000 degree flame and heat exchanger pipe immersed in water of varying temperatures. Think about that.

On trash day you can see a legion of direct-fired heaters on the curb in my neighborhood. Never saw an indirect on the street except being delivered TO the house.

They check in and tend not to check out...

But if direct-fired is your way, buy the best, most efficient you can afford. Warranty cost diffences are just a risk assessment, an insurance policy.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but a 2 year and 5 year warranty heater are the same unit, but you are placing a bet (the cost difference) saying the heater will fail. The manufacturer loses the bet, you get a new heater to install.

Brad