I believe Rheem is losing their Reputation in Quality

[SewerRatz]

PLUMBERS.....DO NOT GIVE SET RATES ON THESE REWORKS.

I don't do it for ANYTHING, other than standard heater replacements.

I did a warranty repair on a 9 month old Bradford White water heater and I sent them my invoice for my labor. They mailed me a check for ¼ of what the invoice was for with a letter explaining to me that my invoice has went beyond their maximum payout for labor paid on warranty work. I mailed them back a balance due invoice explaining to them I do not live in a part of the country where cost of doing business is not that low. After we sent them the balance invoice for the 5th time they finally remitted payment for my total invoice.

Their are maintenance companies that try to dictate our prices to do work for them with low DNE (do not exceed) I just call them back explain to them our rates and if they want us to do service work for them the DNE must be set to cover an hour of our labor rate plus service call. 9 times out of 10 they fax over the new DNE, usually after they try to find another plumbing company that will go out to a job site to rod a main sewer line for $75.00 and failed.

[Ian Gills]

That is a cool gas valve. Can I get one for my Bradford?

All the warranty work I have ever had done was not to code and illegal.

The only people I hire now are trusted local, firms.

Or I DIY. It's the only way to be sure.

In Europe, if it ain't done right people go out of business. The police knock on the door. Not here. It's outrageous.

[Cass]

In Europe, if it ain't done right people go out of business. The police knock on the door. Not here. It's outrageous.

That is why I don't want / like any European influence in this country...I don't want Socialism or Marxisms here I like Capitalism and Freedom as defined by the Founding Fathers...it is found no where else in the world...and I like it...When some country in the world is in trouble the first door they knock on is the USA. The USA has given to and helped more Countrys around the world than any other Super Power bar none...

But it may not be that way much longer...

All of Europe would most likely be under the boot of some Comunist Dictator right now if it hadn't been for this Country...

[Dunbar Plumbing]

Thanks for the great info on the GEs...very good to know...

Rugged...why do you do drain the heater....I haven't drained a heater to change a gas valve since I was a kid learning...If I don't pull the burner assy. I just cover every thing with a plastic bag...I never have any problems not draining the heater...never...and if it is water on the floor thats a concern...I just place towels on the floor then just pick them up and install the burner assy......

Well, for one main reason, I'm assuming you mean that no water turned on in the house, water turned off at the water heater to cavitate the water inside the tank.

That works, but here's the problem with that IMO,

Water has the capability of hitting the backside of that new gas control valve, and since it is a myriad of electronic components, I don't want to take any chances of getting it wet and possibly failing someday.

A regular gas control valve back in the day without all the FVIR nonsense? I would.


Second,


That water will instantly hit the insulation inside the water heater and leaves me wide open for a callback because that water will suck up in that insulation and may appear something is leaking for days.

They won't believe me, I'll have to come back and prove what I already know.

The water heater was two years old and was due for a draining like just about every other heater I come in contact with because people simply do not drain them.

People freak out when they see water in front of a heater. Poses an uneasy feeling for them especially when they've spent 100's with the plumber to
fix it and make it work.

So it's mainly to protect my initial profit made for the work. No matter how far away, a callback is a strike against your performance whether it's your fault or not, let alone destroying the profit margin following the amount of work against the amount of time taken to do the task.

[Cass]

The trick for the valve is poking the probe through a sheet of plastic and after installing it just pulls away...as far as the wet insulation from 2-4 seconds of water dribbling outgoes, the heat from the burner and tank will dry it out lickity split...in all my years of plumbing I have never had 1 call back because they thought it was leaking...but it is your way of doing it so say la vie or how ever it is spelled...

[gdog]

I happen to be in the mkt for a new water heater; i was actually thinking about going tankless, but think you guys scared me straight from all the negative threads I've seen about them here. The gas company guy was out last week and pointed out that my current water heater is almost 30 yrs old! Assuming it's on borrowed time.

So what's the best name in std gas water heater? Sounds like Bradford White?

But I saw here, that they're not available retail; is this true? I was going to DIY it...

Thanks for any advice!

[Nate R]

I happen to be in the mkt for a new water heater; i was actually thinking about going tankless, but think you guys scared me straight from all the negative threads I've seen about them here. The gas company guy was out last week and pointed out that my current water heater is almost 30 yrs old! Assuming it's on borrowed time.

So what's the best name in std gas water heater? Sounds like Bradford White?

But I saw here, that they're not available retail; is this true? I was going to DIY it...

Thanks for any advice!

I seem to recall that when you look at what's available to consumers, Richmond isn't a bad choice.

[SewerRatz]

I happen to be in the mkt for a new water heater; i was actually thinking about going tankless, but think you guys scared me straight from all the negative threads I've seen about them here. The gas company guy was out last week and pointed out that my current water heater is almost 30 yrs old! Assuming it's on borrowed time.

So what's the best name in std gas water heater? Sounds like Bradford White?

But I saw here, that they're not available retail; is this true? I was going to DIY it...

Thanks for any advice!

Most plumbing supply houses will sell a home owner a water heater. So all you need to do is find the local supply house that carries Bradford White and head on in and buy it.

[gdog]

Hey guys; thanks for the input.

So i call my local George Morlan plumbing supply (they're listed on Bradford White website as distributor) and the first guy i talked to said they don't carry BW heaters. Hang up call another GM store across town; "oh yeah we carry a few BW... but you should really look at Reliant".

Anyway they can order the BW too so now i have a source for BW heater. But both GM stores are pushing their "preferred" brand Reliant. They say they're much better value and they have had fewer problems in the field with Reliant than BW heaters. They told me i can only get the 50 gallon BW gas in a 6 yr, whereas the Reliant is available in same size but with 12 yr warranty for about the same price.

Comments?

[SewerRatz]

Hey guys; thanks for the input.

So i call my local George Morlan plumbing supply (they're listed on Bradford White website as distributor) and the first guy i talked to said they don't carry BW heaters. Hang up call another GM store across town; "oh yeah we carry a few BW... but you should really look at Reliant".

Anyway they can order the BW too so now i have a source for BW heater. But both GM stores are pushing their "preferred" brand Reliant. They say they're much better value and they have had fewer problems in the field with Reliant than BW heaters. They told me i can only get the 50 gallon BW gas in a 6 yr, whereas the Reliant is available in same size but with 12 yr warranty for about the same price.

Comments?

To be honest I never heard of Reliant, tried to google them cannot find a website for them but found many complaints.

[gdog]

Sorry; I mis-spoke it's Reliance brand.

I asked who makes them; he said Reliance. Any experience with this brand?

Thanks again!

[gdog]

Well I guess I jinxed it!

My 27 year old AO Smith WH popped its cork last night and started spewing onto the garage floor. What makes its age even more incredible is that for 23 of those years (before we moved in and installed a whole house water pressure regulating valve) it was under over 100 psi water pressure!

Was going to order a bradford white but since this thing popped had to move fast; went with the 6 yr Reliance 50 gallon from George Morlan. Installed it last night and seems to be working fine except noticing some strange stuff:
1. Excessive air-ation of hot water out of faucets; almost like it's seltzer; the bubbles disipate pretty quickly though. See pic1 is hot; pic 2 is cold for comparison.
2. Residue in the hot water; building up on sink drain; see pic 3.
3. Wife notices weird smell (not sulfer) in hot water. I can't smell it; sniffer doesn't work too well from years of working in shop environment.

Any ideas? Is this normal for a new WH? Thanks!