Buying a Water Heater
Getting a deal on hot water tanks.

So you have decided to buy a hot water tank – but with so many companies selling them and so many brands available how do you know if you are getting a good deal?

Not all hot water tanks are created equally and the information you need for knowing the difference isn’t easily available to the general public (in fact the real differences aren’t always known by the companies selling these tanks). The following information will help you in assessing which tank will be a good fit for your home and your budget.

There are two different categories that traditional hot water tanks fall into for buying:

  • Consumer purchase tanks – available in hardware stores & depots
  • Contractor pro-series tanks available only through licensed plumbing companies

The hot water tanks traditionally available through hardware stores and depots are quite different from the pro-series tanks available through licensed & certified plumbing companies.

Generally the difference has more to do with the construction of the tank itself. The pro-series are typically heavier tanks made of thicker materials that are more ruggedly designed. The heavier materials give these tanks more durability, better heat recovery time, and typically use less energy due to their better insulation & heavier design.

Another difference is the price – the consumer purchase tanks available in stores to the general public are often cheaper because they are mass produced overseas (similar to how Wal-Mart supplies cheaper products to their customer) – the typical pro-series tank sold & installed by Licensed Plumbing companies in Ottawa Ontario are manufactured right here in Canada (by Canadians!). In addition a very big benefit from buying a tank made in Canada (besides keeping Canadian companies employing Canadian workers) is the availability of parts should they be required.

The last difference between consumer purchased tanks and contractor pro-series hot water tanks is in the installation itself. Stores do NOT install hot water tanks – they hire sub-contractors to install them for the store. You do not get to choose which sub-contractor will be installing your water heater and thus are at the mercy of whatever company the store uses. When you buy from a licensed plumbing company they provide and install the tank for you in addition they offers their own company warranties on top of the manufacturer warranty. You are not only supporting local business but you get to choose which company will offer you the best services and warranties, you pay only once to only one company, and you get the peace of mind of knowing it is legally installed to meet manufacturer specifications and Ontario plumbing code (and if gas it meets the TSSA safety standards for legal gas installation and venting).

Whether you decide to buy your own hot water tank at a hardware or depot store – or you decide to buy one through a licensed and reputable plumbing company there are a few more things as mentioned in my article on Renting vs Buying that you should be asking before buying:

  • What brand and model of hot water tank is being offered?
  • Where is the water heater manufactured?
  • Does the price include installation?
  • Does the price include the now mandatory in Ontario “mixing valve”?
  • Does the installer offer any guarantees on their installation?
  • Is the installer licensed to install these tanks or is he just a handyman (please note that using a handy man can potentially negate your home owners insurance policy IF damage occurs due to the improperly installed water heater).
  • What guarantees are offered (if any)?
  • Is the guaranty “pro-rated”? A pro-rated guaranty works just like your car value, buy a new car and drive it off the lot and it already depreciates in value – a pro-rated warranty no matter how long it is will not cover the costs of replacing the tank only a small portion of the tank only value (usually excludes installation as well). If the warranty is only going to cover $100 of the costs after only 2 years then what value is that warranty if you have to dish out the balance?
  • Does the installer offer a maintenance plan for your hot water tank? The tank should be flushed annually and the anode should be replaced approximately every 3 years in the city, every 1 to 2 years in the country on harsh well water.

Environmentally friendly note:

If you are looking for a hot water tank that is better on the environment (using less power and producing less greenhouse gas emissions i.e. carbon) then you may want to consider:

1. High Efficiency Gas Water Heater that usually runs approximately 4 to 5 times the purchase price of a standard gas hot water tank
2. Gas Tankless Water Heating System that usually runs approximately 2 to 4 times the purchase price of a standard gas hot water tank
3. Geo-thermal that typically runs 5 to 10 times the purchase price of a standard gas hot water tank
4. Solar powered that typically run 5 to 10 times the price of a standard gas hot water tank.

Unfortunately there is no inexpensive way to get a higher efficiency rating without paying more for these top of the line water heating units. If however you are one of the fortunate people who have the financial resources to make a difference then it is well worth the added expense in the long run.

Eventually with dwindling resources and sky rocketing costs of energy more companies will have to start finding ways for the average consumer to be able to afford these environmentally responsible choices. As more options and details become available I will be revising this article and adding new ones so that you can make an informed choice based on the most relevant information available.

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