Lochinvar Water Heaters

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feltdog

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My water heater is on its last legs and today I called the plumber I usually use to get a price to replace it. They install Lochinvar water heaters. I have never heard of that brand. He quoted me a price for a 50 gallon, 6 year, propane water heater. Now I'm torn between letting him install Lochinvar or finding a plumber that I've never used before that installs Bradford White water heaters. Bradford White was really what I wanted. Is it worth the effort to change plumbers for this job or is Lochinvar a good water heater? Thanks for your help!
 

FloridaOrange

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Lochinvars have been around a long time, used quite a bit locally in commercial work. I'm not a service plumber (or even a plumber) so I'll let others chime in on whether or not it's worth it over a BW. FWIW Bradford Whites aren't as prevelant in this area as they are in other areas, most residential seem to be Ruud, State and A.O. Smiths..........(that I've seen).
 

MACPLUMB

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I have got great news for you ! !

All tank type lochinvar water heaters are made by bradford white co.
They just come with a lochinvar label on them !
 

FloridaOrange

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I have got great news for you ! !

All tank type lochinvar water heaters are made by bradford white co.
They just come with a lochinvar label on them !

Didn't know that, thanks Mac. The only time I've seen BW's has been in the big box store.
 

feltdog

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I have got great news for you ! !

All tank type lochinvar water heaters are made by bradford white co.
They just come with a lochinvar label on them !



Thanks for the information. Is it identical to the Bradford White or is it a lower grade water heater that they make for Lochinvar?
 

Master Plumber Mark

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Lochinvar

Thanks for the information. Is it identical to the Bradford White or is it a lower grade water heater that they make for Lochinvar?

I have used Lochinvar, but I get the feeling that they are a slightly lower grade than the bradford white...

they are ok, but I prefer the bradford
 

MACPLUMB

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The lochinvar is exactly the same as bradford i know because i used to
do the warranty service work on both of them,

that is why i have a ph.d in water heaterolgy ! !
 

SewerRatz

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MacPlumb 777 is 100% right. Here is the deal with Lochinvar and Bradford White..

Bradford White makes the residential water heaters for themselves and Lochinvar.

Lochinvar makes the commercial units (the big boilers) for themselves and Bradford White.

I found this out ... hmm about 10+ years ago when I had to track down a burner tray for a Lochinvar heat exchanger/boiler system.
 

Master Plumber Mark

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Lochinvr

for some odd reason I have had a higher inceidnce
of bad Lochinvar heaters over the Brad whites...

I have only put in maybe 30 lochinvars, but seemed to have
a good number of them go bad in warranty on me...

I just prefer the brad whites....

it has a prettier box it comes in.

 

hj

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Bw

quote; The only time I've seen BW's has been in the big box store.

If that is true, then BW will have to change its "Made by professionals for professionals" slogan, and also the one that says, "Sold only through/by plumbers". But then Kohler and American Standard also had to do it years ago, when they decided to go the DTY route.
 

No one special

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Lochinvar

my sister has a Lochinvar never a problem. I didnt know they were BW?
Just to ring in here. I never seen a BW in a box store. I called and reported them to BW. They were more surprised a home owner alerted them instead of a plumber. I respect them for trying to protect the plumbers jobs. Thanks all you Plumbers! Thank you very much for taking care of us all these yrs!
 
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Tres

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So far, I've had no problems with my Lochinvar, however, I have a leaky tub faucet and since, I get a boiler smell outside my house, but the Lochinvar appears to work, I just wonder if the water heater is strained by the leak.
 

Master Plumber Mark

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lochinvar has gone to hell

Lochinvar has been bought out by SMITH probably to their get hands on
the boiler line that Lochinvar they sells...

The new design of the heater is a disgrace.. They totally threw out
the old Bradford White design that has worked for about 10 years now with no
problems and have introduced their crappy Smith design which is exactly like
the "whirlpool design" of heater.... I honestly dont understand what they
are thinking....

look at this pic... it is EXACTLY like the whirlpool units and this peice of crap
will probably clog up in no time...

Perhaps they are hoping that somehow their new honeywell gas valve is
going to keep the lint form building up under the heater???
Or maybe that valve wont over heat when the unit gets starved for air
which it absolutely has to do over time......

I thought that they bought out Lochinvar to get their hands on the the Bradford white design, which is a great design
.....but now it appears that they have basically screwed themselves here....


 
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