Compare Water Heaters

Updated April 2009

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Recommended As

Pros and Cons

Sources

Amazon Rating

(average)

Where To Buy

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Features

MPN

UPC

Fuel

Type

Tank Capacity

Eligible for 30 Percent Federal Tax Credit?

Flow Rate

Item Weight

Hourly BTU Input

Temperature Adjustment

On/off Switch on Unit?

Required Vent Size

Insulation Material

Insulation R Value

Insulation Depth

EF Rating

U.S. Energy Guide Est. Yearly Operating Costs

U.S. Energy Guide Est. Yearly Energy Use

Recovery at 90 Degree Rise

First-Hour Rating

Recovery Efficiency

Warranty

Height

Diameter

Min. Water Pressure

Max. Water Pressure

Maximum Fuse Required

Minimum Wire Size

Wattage at 240V

Decibel Rating

Anode

Dip Tube

Element, Lower Type

Elements, Number Per Unit

Element, Upper Type

Tank Material

Therms per Year

Kenmore 32656 Power Miser …

*Est. $290

Budget electric water heater

Pros: Price, ample capacity for family of four .

Cons: Ranks at bottom for energy efficiency, warranty doesn't cover labor, reports of early breakdowns, leaks, reports of poor or delayed repair service.
not avail.
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Kenmore 32656 Power Miser …

32656

N/A

Electric

Tank

55 gallons

No

N/A

130 lbs.

N/A

Not available

N/A

N/A

Foam

16

2 in.

.90

$520

4,879 kWh

15 gallons/hour

61

Not available

Tank: 6 years
Parts: 6 years
Labor: N/A

60.25 in.

20.5 in.

N/A

N/A

30 amps

10 gauge

5,500

N/A

One

Self-cleaning PEX Roto-Swirl

Limeguard DualWatt

Two

Limeguard

Glass lined steel

N/A
Kenmore 33159 HydroSense

*Est. $600

Energy-efficient gas water heater

Pros: Energy Star-certified, 2 inches of insulation, self-cleaning, 12-year warranty on tank.

Cons: Reports of problems with electronic controls, complaints about repair service, may be too wide for some areas, warranty covers labor for only one year.
not avail.
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Kenmore 33159 HydroSense

33159

N/A

Natural gas

Tank

50 gallons

No

N/A

155 lbs.

40,000

External knob

N/A

3 or 4 in.

Foam

16

2 in.

.75

$294

242 therms

42 gallons/hour

90

82-83

Tank: 12 years
Parts: 6 years
Labor: 1 year

57.25 in.

22 in.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Two large

Self-cleaning PEX Roto-Swirl

N/A

Two

N/A

Glass lined steel

242
Rheem/Ruud Marathon …

*Est. $1,100

Energy-efficient electric water heater

Pros: Leak-proof tank for longer life, 2.5 inches of insulation, rebates and incentives in some areas, light weight.

Cons: Price, tank warranty valid for original owner only, not much more efficient than other types.
(1 reviews)
- for
  $1,074.60
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Rheem/Ruud Marathon …

MSR50245

N/A

Electric

Tank

50 gallons

No

N/A

91 lbs.

N/A

Control knob under protective cover

N/A

N/A

EnviroFoam (no CFCs or HCFCs)

20

2.5 in.

.94

$497.83

4,671 kWh

20 gallons/hour

61

98

Tank: Lifetime to original owner, or 15 years from manufacturing date for new owner
Parts: 6 years
Labor: N/A

66.75 in.

23.5 in.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

4,500

N/A

None needed

Self-cleaning high-temp polysulfone

Stainless alloy

Two

Built-in fuse to prevent "dry fires"

Polybutane around filament wound fiberglass

N/A
AirGenerate AirTap A7

*Est. $700

Heat pump add-on

Pros: Federal tax credit available, plugs into ordinary outlet, easy to install, works with electric, gas water heaters.

Cons: Price, may be hard to find local repair service, does not replace tank-style heater.
not avail.
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AirGenerate AirTap A7

AirTap A7

N/A

Electric

Heat pump (add-on to tank)

N/A

Yes

N/A

48 lbs.

N/A

Not available

Not available

Optional AirVent (*est. $80) routes cooled air into air conditioning vents or into another room.

N/A

N/A

N/A

2.11

N/A

N/A

N/A

43

N/A

Compressor: 5 years
Other parts: 3 yrs
Whole unit: 1 year
Labor: 1 year

13 in. (Mounts on top of tank-style water heater)

14 in. x 18 in.

N/A

N/A

(Only uses 6 amps operating, 12 amps startup)

N/A

110v outlet

50

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Takagi Flash T-H1

*Est. $2,800

Whole-house tankless water heater

Pros: Eligible for federal tax credit, energy efficient, durable (20-year lifespan), one unit can supply whole house.

Cons: High installation costs, experienced contractors required, cold water "sandwich" effect.
not avail.
- for
  $19.99
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Takagi Flash T-H1

FLASH T-H1

N/A

Natural gas

Tankless

N/A

Yes

0.75-10.2 GPM

90 lbs.

15,000 - 199,000 Natural gas
11,000 - 190,000 LP gas

Optional remote control avail.

Not available

4 in.

N/A

N/A

N/A

.92 natural gas, .94 LP gas

N/A

N/A

N/A

285 gallons/hour
4.75 gallons/minute
(77F rising)

N/A

Heat exchanger: 10 years
Other parts: 5 years
Labor: N/A

28 in.

19 in. wide, 12 in. deep

15 psi

N/A

(Only uses 0.77 amps)

N/A

N/A

52

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Bosch Ariston GL4

*Est. $170

Small point-of-use water heater

Pros: Provides hot water to problem areas, plugs into an outlet, simple installation, fits easily under sink.

Cons: Mixed reviews for capacity, temperature controls hard to access, some reports of leaks, other problems.
(23 reviews)
- for
  $179.00
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Bosch Ariston GL4

GL4

052575600208

Electric

Point-of-use

3.85 gallons

No

N/A

17.3 lbs.

N/A

65 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, but controls difficult to access

Yes

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

0.94

N/A

N/A

7 gallons/hour

N/A

98.4

Tank: 6 years, Parts: 1 year

13.75 in.

13.75 in. x 13.5 in. deep

N/A

150 psi

Uses 12.5 amps (Plug in)

N/A

1,500 watts on regular 110 outlet

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Glass-lined

N/A

Compare Water Heaters

Kenmore 32656 Power Miser …

Kenmore 33159 HydroSense

Rheem/Ruud Marathon …

AirGenerate AirTap A7

Takagi Flash T-H1

Bosch Ariston GL4