Blog

HOW LONG IS A WATER HEATER WARRANTY?  

IS YOUR HEATER REALLY COVERED UNDER WARRANTY?

Water heater warranties vary by manufacturer and by model as well as by the extended warranty that was available at the time of purchase but there is more to the story than what is on the box.

This subject in complete transparency frustrates me as a consumer and as someone who installs water heaters as a licensed plumbing professional.  As a licensed plumber it’s taboo to talk about the dark side of water heater warranties. Although, it is very important for you to know what your warranty really covers.

As customers we read warranty in years and think we are covered for that many years, it is a sad state of facts that warranties are not all created equal and many have fine print attached. It is a lot like reading nutrition labels, if you don’t read the fine print you think you’re eating something healthy, until you realize you’re not.

Warrantees for water heater manufactures are measured in years.  These years are then separated to cover labor, parts and then the tank if you have a standard tank style water heater.  This breakdown is also true for tankless units but tankless separates by labor, parts and by heat exchanger.  When you read a label on a water heater that says 6 year warranty at the hardware store, that warranty does NOT cover the entire unit for 6 years.

For most water heater manufacturers it covers 6 years on the TANK only. 1-2 years on PARTS only and then 1 year on labor. Your labor warranty for one year isn’t really a labor warranty. Your parts and tank warranty aren’t always 100% accurate either.  I would love to say this isn’t the case for some water heater manufacturers. But simply put, water heater manufacturers don’t fully cover your tank, your parts or your labor.  There is hidden verbiage to your water heater warranty that I want to bring out into the open for you.

HOW A WATER HEATER IS WARRANTY IS BROKEN DOWN

1. Labor Warranty
2. Parts Warranty
3. Tank Warranty

Labor Warranty – Your labor warranty is what a manufacturer will cover to have a professional make a repair on your water heater or replace your water heater.

Parts Warranty – Water heater parts warranty on the physical parts of your water heater, but NOT your anode rod.  This warranty covers your elements, thermostats, gas control valves, etc.

Tank Warranty – Water heater tank warranty is the coverage of a leaking or defective tank, this warranty covers a direct exchange like for like.

When you buy a water heater it is difficult to find the fine print on the “limited” warranty and what is really covered by the labor warranty.  Don’t you just love the word limited?  What does that even mean when it comes to a warranty?  When I ask manufacturers’ representatives what the limited warranty limits are they never know. Usually they have to call headquarters, then headquarters doesn’t even know. I often get the delay of several days trying to get in writing a real answer of what the limits on a warranty are.

This content is meant to lead you in the direction of being informed on what your water heater warranty really is not what is implied.  I won’t be manufacturer specific for most of this content because there are too many water heater manufacturers to cover in this blog. I will cover the resources for the top 5 most common water heater manufacturers here in the Phoenix area.

This includes a breakdown of those manufacturers other brand names. Yep that’s right! Many water heater manufacturers sell their product under several different names. Same water heater just a different sticker on the front.

No one looks forward to the day their water heater decides to start leaking.  It happens to all of us eventually but what you may not know can cost you.  If your heater is leaking from the tank it is NOT repairable.  Once the inside glass lining of the tank is cracked it is time for a new one. Lifespans of water heaters can vary. It greatly depends upon maintenance habits and the condition of your water.

We have found that most electric water heaters in the Phoenix and the surrounding metropolitan last between 8-10 years. Gas water heaters can easily add 2-5 years to their expected life span.  If your heater is leaking it is important to hire a licensed and experienced contractor to replace it.  Your licensed contractor knows how to properly install your water heater for both safety and code compliance. This will avoid having your water heater’s warranty voided through the manufacturer.

That’s right, a water heater that isn’t installed up to current plumbing code voids the warranty through the manufacturer. In some cases, it can even void coverage through your home warranty company. This will leave you with purchasing out of pocket, 100% of the replacement cost.  While you may be tempted to have your water heater replaced by a neighbor, friend or “cheaper” handyman what you don’t know is that it can cost you a lot more in the long run by not having it installed correctly.

Outside of the safety concerns of having someone that isn’t properly licensed replace your water heater the financial repercussions should be something to take into serious consideration.

Your water heater warranty can be voided for being installed outside without proper and adequate protection from the elements. It can be voided for being a residential water heater in a commercial application. The warranty can be voided because the temperature and pressure relief line wasn’t run up to code. It can even be voided by certain companies if the water heater isn’t purchased through a valid dealer.

Hot deals online? Yep, some companies sell water heaters at a discounted price but fail to tell you that you do NOT get a warranty with the purchase. The warranty is immediately voided because they are not an authorized dealer for the manufacturer.

Your water heater purchase and installation is an investment into your home for the next decade, it is important to ensure that it is installed safely, up to code and by a licensed contractor to protect your investment now and in the future.