Water Heaters: Reviews

ConsumerReports.org: While testing gas tankless water heaters, ConsumerReports.org editors also test the A. O. Smith Vertex water heater.

Journal of Light Construction: This review aimed at plumbers recommends the A. O. Smith Vertex as one of the least expensive water heaters that uses condensing technology, noting that it's much easier to install as a replacement for an electric water heater, compared with gas tankless heaters.

PlumbingZone.com: Plumbers discuss the Vertex water heater in detail here, noting that it heats water extremely fast; one says his customer had a full tank of hot water ready before he'd finished writing the bill for the installation.

Fine Homebuilding: The A. O. Smith Vertex is among several specific water heaters recommended in this article on saving money on heating water.

411Plumb.com: This single-product review by a plumber recommends the A. O. Smith Vertex water heater but doesn't document any testing.

BuilderOnline.org: A. O. Smith is one of the water-heater brands that ranks toward the top for quality in this survey of over 3,400 builders and contractors.

J.D. Power and Associates: This survey of nearly 900 contractors and subcontractors ranks A. O. Smith below average based on six factors.

PopularMechanics.com: This video review covers a slightly less efficient Vertex model but notes that it's still more efficient than most gas tankless water heaters.

BuilderOnline.org: In this 2007 survey of 3,428 builders and contractors, Rheem ranks highest among 11 brands for water-heater quality.

J.D. Power and Associates: This survey of nearly 900 contractors and subcontractors ranks Rheem/Ruud second only to Bradford White for overall satisfaction -- based on seven factors: warranty and repair service, ordering process, credit/billing, delivery, price, sales and marketing support, and the water heaters themselves.

411Plumb.com: When Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant (FVIR) safety regulations began requiring manufacturers to redesign gas water heaters to seal the pilot light away from exposure to flammable gases outside the water heater, major manufacturers scrambled to come up with viable designs.

Bestcovery.com: A household-appliance reviewer gives top ranking to the Rheem FVR 22V40F1 as the best tank-style water heater, based on analysis of features, specifications, price and reviews elsewhere.

Amazon.com: About a dozen and a half owners review the Rheem 22V40F1 water heater here.

ConsumerReports.org: This brief review reports on preliminary tests at ConsumerReports.org of the GE hybrid water heater.

WaterHeaterRescue.com: The GE water heater edges out the Rheem hybrid water heater in this forum discussion based on the GE hybrid's more efficient design plus the fact that it uses a replaceable anode.

Fine Homebuilding: This brief review on the Fine Homebuilding blog includes an illustration of the digital control panel and notes that GE estimates the average installation cost at $1,500, effectively doubling the price (though the federal tax credit applies to the total installed price). A handful of readers weigh in, most disappointed at the pricing.

411Plumb.com: In this brief preview, a plumber recommends the GE hybrid water heater based on its features and the energy efficiency that qualifies it for Energy Star certification and thus for many incentives that lower the installed cost, including Weatherization Assistance grants for homeowners who qualify for them.

Lowes.com: Twenty owners give the GE hybrid water heater a total of 4.5 stars out of 5 on this retailer website.

BuilderOnline.org: GE ranks in the middle for quality in comparison with 12 other water-heater brands in this 2007 survey of more than 3,400 builders and contractors.

J.D. Power and Associates: GE isn't among the four brands covered in this survey of nearly 900 contractors and subcontractors, but Rheem/Ruud, the company that makes GE water heaters, ranks second to Bradford White.

Sears.com: The handful of owners reviewing this budget electric water heater give it a higher average rating than most Kenmore water heaters, though only about 75 percent would recommend this model to a friend.

Epinions.com: Several owners give heavy criticism of the 50-gallon Kenmore water heater that's in the series one step up from the PowerMiser 6.

BuilderOnline.org: In ratings for water-heater quality, Kenmore ranks almost at the end compared with 12 other major brands based on a 2007 survey of 3,428 builders and contractors.

J.D. Power & Associates: A. O. Smith, the company that manufactures water heaters sold under the Kenmore brand, receives below-average ratings in this brand-comparison survey of almost 900 contractors and subcontractors.

ConsumerReports.org: Based on a survey of almost 25,000 subscribers, editors rank retailers of large household appliances, comparing Sears with five other stores plus local "independents." The rankings are based on ratings on seven factors: price, selection, product quality, shopping ease, service, checkout ease and knowledgeable staff.

AssociatedContent.com: This single-product review covers a 40-gallon water heater in the same PowerMiser 9 series that owners review at Epinions.com, but a gas model.

BuilderOnline.org: For water-heater quality, Rinnai leads the pack in this 2007 survey of 3,428 builders and contractors.

Okaloosa Gas District: Objective tests done in 2002 compare the Rinnai model preceding the Rinnai R75LSiN with a natural-gas, storage-tank water heater and an electric water heater, based on the average use of a four-person household.

Bestcovery.com: This review by a household appliance expert gives top ranking to the Rinnai R75LSiN as the best whole-house tankless water heater.

Amazon.com: The handful of owners reviewing the Rinnai R75LSiN tankless water heater are mostly pleased, but note that compared with a storage-tank water heater, this system wastes water because you have to let water run from the faucet for a minute or two before hot water starts to come out.

Ryan's Inter-Online Web Blog: This two-part review covers an earlier 180,000 BTU Rinnai tankless water heater, now the Rinnai R75LS. Despite high installation costs ($1,900), the author is satisfied, calculating that the Rinnai saves more money than alternatives, taking the tax credit into account.

Greenerbuilding.org: More than 275 builders and users give various Rinnai tankless water heaters mixed reviews here, as they do with other brands of tankless water heaters.

HubPages.com: This article recommends the Rinnai mainly based on the Okaloosa tests above, but it also covers a lot of details about tankless hot water heaters.

Nexus Market Research: This survey of 101 users of gas tankless water heaters notes that where the unit is installed is a critical factor in satisfaction.

Amazon.com: Nearly three dozen owners rate and review the Ariston GL4 at this online retail site.

HomeDepot.com: More than a dozen owners give the Ariston GL4 mostly positive reviews here, especially for boosting a storage-tank water heater on long pipe runs.

FaucetDirect.com: The handful of owners reviewing the Ariston GL4 recommend it for workshop use or at a bathroom sink.

Bestcovery.com: Based on an analysis of features rather than on personal testing, this review ranks the Bosch Ariston GL4 second to the smaller GL2.5 as the best point-of-use water heater, but apparently this is only because the smaller unit costs less and might be adequate for many users.

TreeHugger.com: This brief review notes that although there are more efficient water heaters available, the Bosch Ariston point-of-use water heaters make "an easy retrofit" with no extra cost for plumbing or wiring.

AceHardware.com: A handful of owners give the smaller but similar Ariston GL2.5 water heater mixed reviews.