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Discussion Rheem vs AO Smith gas water heater

B

bhutpret55

Junior Member
Based on your experience which water heater do you recommend? A.O. Smith or Rheem 40 gallon short gas water heater? I'm very confused on which one to choose.
 
The cheapest gas ones, which are off brand but made by these big companies, don’t last for much more than 10 years. Had one installed new in 2010 die this year.

They also did a badge swap. It used to be GE at HD and Whirlpool at Lowe’s, but they wanted to eliminate the wave bad inventory reviews that would have been dropped.

It’s more about paying more to get more life. The “middle option” and “highest option” found at Home Depot and Lowe's appears to have no physical differences but the parts warranty is longer on the “highest option”. Then the likes of Ferguson sells the better stuff for pros to install.
 
My gas AO Smith is now a little over 25 y/o. Couldn't tell you which quality tier it is.

I set a water sensor alarm next to it to let me know when it starts leaking, and a rope on the floor to corral the water towards the grade in the floor so the sensor will be in the leak path... did this a few years ago, as I have some moderate-value things in the vicinity of the heater, and just to catch it before it becomes a cleanup or mildew issue. A pan under it would be better but was already installed, never got around to that.
 
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Anything you buy today will likely need replacing in < 10 years.

The old saying, they don't make them like they used to is a reality. My Rheem water heater is original to the house, from 1965. Plumber was here on something else and didn't believe it, but found the manufacture date on it, and it was made in 1965. It is electric and natural gas is not an option where I live.

My other house, built in 1971, has natural gas, and is on either the 4th or 5th water heater.
 
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