Box Store vs Plumber for Water Heaters
Here are 3 reasons to consider professional-grade water heaters.
The 3 Key Differences
Big Box Store vs Professional Grade
Your water heater is critical for the upkeep of your home or business’ hot water, so where do you go when the water heater goes out? Do you call your local plumber or head to the store?
When shopping for a water heater we know a top consideration is price, so we understand why the water heaters at the stores are enticing. However, you end up with a lower quality water heater and cheaper parts in the end. Not only that, but the manufacturer’s protections usually do not extend to the water heater once purchased at a store.
Sure we are a bit biased about buying professional grade water heaters, but there are 3 reasons why they should be considered next time your water heater bites the dust.
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Warranty and Coverage
We hear from clients that they have a need for an immediate service, but somehow the warranty and manufacturer always delay the process.
Why? Usually the culprit is the parts needing to be ordered, and then you have to wait for a plumber to come out until the specific part is ordered. Plus the warranty’s fine print tends to hide key details.
Home Depot advertises that their Rheem tankless water heater comes with a “5 year warranty”, and when you look at the warranty document, the wording is different and reads “5 year on heat exchanger and 1 year on parts.” This only covers the heating element for 5 years and not the water heater or its other various parts, or services needed for repair.
Quality and Available Features
Consumer grade water heaters sold at big box stores, such as Home depot or Lowes, are generally built to lower specifications. Some even have fewer features, and then you are limited to what the store carries in stock. Box models also tend to have plastic drain valves instead of brass, and thinner hot water tanks.
How frustrating!
Professional grade water heaters, sometimes called contractor grade, are sold through licensed plumbing experts, such as Reliant Plumbing. These professional grade water heaters have different types of tanks for the tanked water heater, and better water heater parts. They come with brass drain valves instead of plastic. A thicker tank helps the water heater last longer and stay energy efficient by keeping heat inside the tank.
Box store models tend to have thinner tanks, plastic parts, and glass tanks instead of ceramic.
Glass tends to lose heat faster than ceramic. According to Driftaway Coffee, Ceramic has a higher specific heat (~900 J/kg.K) than glass (~800 J/kj.K). All this means that ceramic holds heat better, which is what you would want your water heater to do. Pockets of air that are trapped inside the ceramic act as insulators. That way the water heater does not spend all day firing up the heating element. Saving you energy, time, and your money.
So ceramic is good to hold your coffee in to keep warm, and it’s the best choice for keeping your water warm in your hot water heater.
Installation and Quality of Service
Okay, say you called a box store like Lowes and they confirmed that they had a tankless water heater in stock that will suit your needs. However, store employees may not have all the know-how of a plumber, so getting more technical questions answered is often difficult.
Plus, installation costs are not often included! Then the big box store hires out a third party installer and more often than not, you only meet the installers the day of the appointment. The third party may have extra fees depending on who they hire. So if you need an explanation of the charges or change your mind, then there are more people to call. We often have clients tell us that the third party vendor told them to call the store.
Reliant Plumbing plumbers are highly trained and skilled plumbers who spend time making sure you have the right water heater for your home. We install water heaters daily for our neighbors in Austin and San Antonio and can help you with multiple options and price points to make sure the water heater is good for your home and wallet.
We are proud to have three master plumbers at Reliant Plumbing, so no stone goes unturned and no issue goes unsolved. Same or next day repairs & replacements as well. Give us a call in your next plumbing emergency, cause we’re the reliable choice! Contact us to get started.
Water Heater Questions Answered
Additional Resources
CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR MOST POPULAR WATER HEATER HOW TO'S INCLUDING STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEOS
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Master Plumber's Guide to Hybrid Water Heaters
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Master Plumber's Guide to Tankless Water Heaters
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Tankless Water Heater Benefits
We offer customers this modern plumbing option that can increase efficiency and lower energy bills.
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