Water Heaters Reviews

We found several excellent buyer's guides and efficiency resources for water heaters. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's "Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings" and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association's "Consumers' Directory of Certified Efficiency Ratings for Heating and Water Heating Equipment" both offer numerical efficiency ratings for several types of water heaters. Consumer Reports hasn't actually rated water heaters since 1998, but its most recent article does cover purchasing guidelines. Syndicated columnist James Dulley publishes buyer's guides with a strong focus on energy efficiency. His Update Bulletins on solar water heater kits, electric and gas water heaters and tankless water heaters are helpful in assessing the pros and cons of each type.

For solar water heaters, the nonprofit Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) selects a solar water heater at random from the manufacturer's facility; it is then subjected to durability testing to reveal any leaks. For real-world water-heater satisfaction, a study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates and McGraw-Hill Construction surveys over 300 contractors on overall satisfaction with water heater and boiler manufacturers. User and contractor reviews posted to the Berkeley Parents' Network website and Greenerbuilding.org are helpful in assessing tankless water heaters.

We were surprised to find so few resources actually rating individual products. This may be due to the standardization of water heater production, resulting in marginal differences between manufacturers. To illustrate this point, note that the Department of Energy has considered suspending the use of the Energy Star label for standard tank-type water heaters. If you need a new water heater, your biggest decision may be whether to simply replace your regular tank water heater or try a new tankless (also called on-demand) water heater, which promises better energy efficiency.