![]() ![]() ![]() Most of the box store brands use consumer or “performance” grade parts-and the box store doesn’t carry them. Now, if that were your water heater that stopped working, do you want to wait that long for a repair?Īnd then there’s parts. This person has an immediate need to get service, but because the person who sold them the water heater isn’t the one who services it, it can take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to try to process a box store warranty. After waiting on hold, the manufacturer tells them to find a local plumber who works on these models to address it.The store says “we don’t handle that” and tells them to contact the manufacturer.The homeowner then calls the retail store they purchased it from.Their water heater needs service-suddenly stops working or leaks.Here’s what the average box store customer experiences before they come to us: They didn’t know the models found in box stores are more problematic and prone to defects within the first 6 years.Īnd they were surprised to learn that the “6-year warranty” is not actually through the store they purchased it from. Our team gets calls all the time from homeowners who purchased box store models who reach us after they can’t get help from the box store, manufacturer, or the installer. This means the manufacturer only covers breakage within 1 year-so where do you get help if your water heater breaks after 1 year? While a water heater sold at a big box retailer may advertise a 6-year warranty, it says on the box it is a 1-year in-home warranty. The warranty is a critical part of a water heater purchase and you’ll want to pay close attention to the warranty terms. Here is a comparison in the features of a professional-grade vs. ![]() Box store or consumer models typically don’t have nearly as strong of a lining, but the professional-grade water heaters we carry are equipped with an exclusive enamel Vitraglas® lining that extends the life of your tank by providing superior protection. That thicker tank means more energy efficiency and a longer-lasting machine.Īnd when it comes to your bottom line, the lining of your tank matters too, because it protects the tank from the corrosive effects of hot water. Why does that matter? Because the only thing that prevents those 40 or 50 gallons of water from leaking out into your house is the quality and thickness of the steel tank. When you purchase a professional grade tank water heater, you’re actually getting a different type of tank itself-one that’s made with 5–10 pounds more steel. ![]() On the flip side, the water heaters sold through licensed plumbing experts like Water Heaters Now are professional, contractor grade. Plus, you’re limited to the narrow scope of brands in their inventory. The consumer-grade water heaters sold at box stores are generally built to lower specifications, with fewer features. The water heaters available on the shelf at your nearest big-box retailer such as Home Depot, Lowe’s or Menards are a consumer-grade quality, not professional grade. So before you make your next water heater selection, consider these factors when choosing where to purchase your next water heater. But we’re unapologetic about that because we’re biased for a reason-several reasons, in fact. Now, since we do sell professional-grade water heaters, we know we’re biased. For example, water heaters sold at a big box store are significantly different from those sold through a plumbing supply distributor. When people compare water heaters they tend to default to price, type (gas or electric, tank or tankless) and brand.īut there’s another critical factor to consider in the decision-making process: where or who you buy your water heater from.Įven water heaters with the same brand’s sticker on the front differ in quality, longevity, and warranty depending on where they are sold. When your water heater suddenly breaks, do you know where you’d go to get the best replacement? ![]()
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