EmailBest Reviewed
Water Heaters
- Budget electric water heater Kenmore 32656 Power Miser 6 *Est. $290
- Energy-efficient gas water heater Kenmore 33159 HydroSense *Est. $600
- Energy-efficient electric water heater Rheem/Ruud Marathon MSR50245 *Est. $1100
- Heat pump add-on AirGenerate AirTap A7 *Est. $700
- Whole-house tankless water heater Takagi Flash T-H1 *Est. $2800
- Small point-of-use water heater Bosch Ariston GL4 *Est. $170
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Energy-efficient gas water heater
- Energy Star-certified
- 2 inches of insulation
- Self-cleaning
- 12-year warranty on tank
- Reports of problems with electronic controls
- Complaints about repair service
- May be too wide for some areas
- Warranty covers labor for only one year
March 2009. This Kenmore gas water heater stands out for its 2-inch-thick of insulation, Energy Star certification and long warranty (12 years on the tank, six on parts and one on labor). Two magnesium anode rods inhibit rust and consequent leaks. The self-cleaning feature minimizes sediment buildup that can lower a water heater's efficiency -- especially important for heating hard water. Temperature can be set precisely. Owners also like the match-free ignition. Though this model gets mostly positive reviews -- except for a few reports of problems with the electronic controls -- Kenmore water heaters in general have a poor reputation for warranty and repair service.
We found the best reviews and ratings of the Kenmore gas water heater written by owners at Sears.com. Consumer Reports mentions this water heater's self-cleaning feature in its November 2007 online buyer's guide, but its current review doesn't test or rate any water heaters. We found many reviews of Kenmore water heaters at various review sites such as DoItYourself.com and ComplaintsBoard.com, and though they cover less efficient Kenmore models, the focus is on Sears warranty and repair service.
Our Sources
1. Sears.com
The Kenmore 33453 gas water heater gets rave reviews from the handful of owners reviewing it here, but most of the reviews are quite recent; the earliest are dated October 2008. Some reviews of other Kenmore water heaters note a variety of problems, including high installation costs, premature leaks, breakdowns and poor or delayed repair service.
Review: Kenmore 50 gallon HydroSense Gas Water Heater 33159, Contributors to Sears.com
2. Sears.com
More than a dozen owners give this similar Kenmore gas water heater mostly positive reviews, but several report problems with the electronic temperature control.
Review: Kenmore 50 gallon HydroSense Gas Water Heater 33453, Contributors to Sears.com
3. Sears.com
A handful of owners review the 40-gallon version of the Kenmore HydroSense gas water heaters. Most are extremely happy with it, but one reports that the electronic temperature control stopped working after about three months.
Review: Kenmore 40 gallon HydroSense Gas Water Heater, Contributors to Sears.com
Consumer Reports doesn't test the Kenmore 33453 gas water heater, or any other water heater for that matter, but this buyers' guide does evaluate the significance of its self-cleaning feature and 12-year warranty.
Review: Storage Tank Water Heaters: Hot Tips for a Better Buy, Editors of ConsumerReports.com, Nov. 2007
This single-product review covers a 40-gallon gas water heater that's a step or two down from the Kenmore 33453, since the water heater reviewed here only has one inch of insulation and a shorter warranty. The anonymous reviewer notes that the self-cleaning feature is especially useful for anyone who's heating hard water, since sediment greatly reduces a water heater's efficiency. The review praises the water heater's performance but notes that Sears charges more for installation than the price of the water heater itself.
Review: A Review of The Kenmore Miser Water Heater, "Clever Shopper", Oct. 2007
A.O. Smith, the company that manufactures water heaters sold under the Kenmore brand, earns below-average ratings in this brand-comparison survey of almost 900 contractors and subcontractors. Seven satisfaction factors were measured, but it's interesting that warranty service and repairs are over twice as important to professional subcontractor as the product itself, which matches pretty well the owner-written reviews we find from homeowners at Sears.com. The actual product accounts for only 10 percent of the total satisfaction rating.
Review: HVAC and Water Heater/Boiler Subcontractor Satisfaction Study, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, Sept. 2006
This brief review compares less expensive, less efficient water heaters from Bradford & White, Kenmore and Whirlpool, based on research of other existing reviews. The Kenmore loses points mostly because of so many owner-written complaints about breakdowns and poor warranty service.
Review: 40 Gallon Gas Water Heaters, Editors of CompareTheBrands.com
Homeowners weigh in on a comparison between two gas water heaters, focusing on differences in the warranty specifications. One contributor notes that after the initial one-year warranty that covers labor costs, service calls will be as expensive as the water heater itself. Another says that the Home Depot six-year warranty on the GE covers labor costs for all six years, but is advised to get this in writing.
Review: GE vs. Kenmore Water Heaters, Contributors to DoItYourself.com
This brief complaint provides some details about repair delays and costs for a high-end Kenmore PowerMiser 12 water heater. This is a different model, but the tale of woe matches those told at other review sites by owners of Kenmore water heaters.
Review: Sears Home Central Service on a Kenmore Water Heater, Nov. 2004
