self-cleaning water heaters
 

I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

Other specs seem the same.

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?



(given that I'll also be paying to have them install it, which given
venting and access issues will at least double the cost, the extra $80
isn't a big deal, but I'm still curious about it)

--

(not sure if this link will work, comparing three models)
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...048+527050+780

Thanks.

J.

self-cleaning water heaters
 

"JRStern" wrote in message
...
I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

Other specs seem the same.

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?

Water heaters are prone to sediment buildup that slows flow and causes other
problems over time. The self cleaning eliminates the need for draining the
bottom to clear the sediment. Has to do with the way the water circulates
in the tank.

Does it make a difference? Worth the price? That depends on the quality of
your water and how much solids can separate into the tank.

Is the 12 year a better deal? If you assume the heater will last the
warranty period, the annual cost of ownership is a bit less.

self-cleaning water heaters
 

JRStern wrote:
I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

Other specs seem the same.

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?



(given that I'll also be paying to have them install it, which given
venting and access issues will at least double the cost, the extra $80
isn't a big deal, but I'm still curious about it)

--

(not sure if this link will work, comparing three models)
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...048+527050+780

Thanks.

J.


The self cleaning units, if I remember correctly, have a cold
water supply tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the
tank and is curved in such a way that it swirls the water
around which keeps the sediment stirred up so it goes out with
the hot water.

TDD

self-cleaning water heaters
 

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:34:52 -0600, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

The self cleaning units, if I remember correctly, have a cold
water supply tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the
tank and is curved in such a way that it swirls the water
around which keeps the sediment stirred up so it goes out with
the hot water.

Heh, just what I wanted to know! High tech at it's best!

I presume it works somewhat, at least sounds like it can do no harm.

Thanks.

J.

self-cleaning water heaters
 

JRStern wrote:
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:34:52 -0600, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

The self cleaning units, if I remember correctly, have a cold
water supply tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the
tank and is curved in such a way that it swirls the water
around which keeps the sediment stirred up so it goes out with
the hot water.

Heh, just what I wanted to know! High tech at it's best!

I presume it works somewhat, at least sounds like it can do no harm.

Thanks.

J.


You're welcome, I know a little bit about how stuff works.
*snicker*

http://www.reliancewaterheaters.com/service/better.html

There is some debate about whether or not the feature is
effective at reducing sediment.

TDD

self-cleaning water heaters
 

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:36:17 -0800, JRStern
wrote:

I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

Other specs seem the same.

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?



(given that I'll also be paying to have them install it, which given
venting and access issues will at least double the cost, the extra $80
isn't a big deal, but I'm still curious about it)
The "self cleaning" means it has a "turbulator" inlet - basically the
inlet tube goes to the bottom of the tank and then makes an arc around
the outer circumference of the tank - water coming in agitates the
water in the bottom of the tank reducing sediment deposits.

As for the 9 vs 12 year warranty it's basically just a better
"insurance policy" - tank is in most respects the same. Might have an
additional anode in the 12 year tank. For less than $30 a year I'd be
REAL tempted to spring for the 12 year tank.

self-cleaning water heaters
 

JRStern wrote in
:

I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

Other specs seem the same.

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?



(given that I'll also be paying to have them install it, which given
venting and access issues will at least double the cost, the extra $80
isn't a big deal, but I'm still curious about it)

--

(not sure if this link will work, comparing three models)
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...048+527050+780

Thanks.

J.



And none of them qualify for a tax credit. Doing some .gov clicking I
learned that standard storage tanks pretty much don't qualify. Gas, Oil
and Propane Water Heaters need to have an Energy Factor = 0.82 or a
thermal efficiency of at least 90%. The 3 referenced are in the .6
range.

And here's a list of a ****load (specific unit of measurement
back in VT) of storage water heaters. They're all in the .6 range.
Pretty handy for lots of comparisons besides EF too.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?...products_ pdf



From: http://preview.tinyurl.com/y954grz

1) Storage tank

Most storage tank water heaters can not qualify for the tax credit
because they can not meet the Energy Factor requirement of .82. However,
there are some commercial storage tank water heaters that can qualify
for the tax credit because they have a thermal efficiency of greater
than 90%. These models are larger than what is typically considered a
residential unit and may not have the standard safety features of
residential models.

self-cleaning water heaters
 

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:56:59 -0600, The Daring Dufas
wrote:


The self cleaning units, if I remember correctly, have a cold
water supply tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the
tank and is curved in such a way that it swirls the water
around which keeps the sediment stirred up so it goes out with
the hot water.

There is some debate about whether or not the feature is
effective at reducing sediment.


Yes, it works. Just checked mine after 10 years.
No sediment came out of the drain.

self-cleaning water heaters
 

wrote in message
...
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:56:59 -0600, The Daring Dufas
wrote:


The self cleaning units, if I remember correctly, have a cold
water supply tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the
tank and is curved in such a way that it swirls the water
around which keeps the sediment stirred up so it goes out with
the hot water.

There is some debate about whether or not the feature is
effective at reducing sediment.


Yes, it works. Just checked mine after 10 years.
No sediment came out of the drain.

10 yrs? Who is the manufacturer, that's a pretty good life span. And, what
was the HW tank rated in # of yrs to begin with?
Thanks.

self-cleaning water heaters
 

On Sat, 7 Nov 2009 22:32:12 -0500, "Dom S." wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:56:59 -0600, The Daring Dufas
wrote:


The self cleaning units, if I remember correctly, have a cold
water supply tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the
tank and is curved in such a way that it swirls the water
around which keeps the sediment stirred up so it goes out with
the hot water.

There is some debate about whether or not the feature is
effective at reducing sediment.


Yes, it works. Just checked mine after 10 years.
No sediment came out of the drain.

10 yrs? Who is the manufacturer, that's a pretty good life span. And, what
was the HW tank rated in # of yrs to begin with?
Thanks.


9 year warrantee Sears Kenmore Power Miser 9 40 gallon

self-cleaning water heaters
 

vertex now quaifies for the tax credit, 1500 bucks installed around
here

self-cleaning water heaters
 

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:38:02 -0500, tnom wrote:
There is some debate about whether or not the feature is
effective at reducing sediment.

Yes, it works. Just checked mine after 10 years.
No sediment came out of the drain.

That sounds like mine (not self-cleaning). Sediment was there, but no
sediment came out of the drain because the drain valve's water pathway
is too small and angular to allow the sediment to come out. :-)

(it seemed to be about 1/4" x 1/4" in places - so all it takes is for a
flake of scale larger than that to fall to the bottom of the tank, and
nothing will escape the drain valve except water - giving the impression
that there's no sediment in there)

self-cleaning water heaters
 

On Nov 8, 10:55�am, Jules
wrote:
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:38:02 -0500, tnom wrote:
There is some debate about whether or not the feature is
effective at reducing sediment.

Yes, �it works. Just checked mine after 10 years.
No sediment came out of the drain.

That sounds like mine (not self-cleaning). Sediment was there, but no
sediment came out of the drain because the drain valve's water pathway
is too small and angular to allow the sediment to come out. :-)

(it seemed to be about 1/4" x 1/4" in places - so all it takes is for a
flake of scale larger than that to fall to the bottom of the tank, and
nothing will escape the drain valve except water - giving the impression
that there's no sediment in there)

some areas get no sediment, till the lining fails..........

self-cleaning water heaters
 

On Nov 7, 1:36*pm, JRStern wrote:
I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

Other specs seem the same.

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?

(given that I'll also be paying to have them install it, which given
venting and access issues will at least double the cost, the extra $80
isn't a big deal, but I'm still curious about it)

--

(not sure if this link will work, comparing three models)http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...roductCompare?...

Thanks.

J.

Self cleaning means you pay more and it dies anyway..

self-cleaning water heaters
 

You been checking it every six months or so, to see if
sediment gets started?

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

Yes, it works. Just checked mine after 10 years.
No sediment came out of the drain.

10 yrs? Who is the manufacturer, that's a pretty good life
span. And, what
was the HW tank rated in # of yrs to begin with?
Thanks.

self-cleaning water heaters
 

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:36:17 -0800, JRStern
wrote:

I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?

In Southern Arizona, our water contains a high degree of "gypsum".
Leave a glass of water out overnight,
and there's a white sediment on the bottom.

In water heaters, this builds up to a "paste"
that can't be flushed out using the water heater drain.
In time, the water heater must be replaced.

A heater with a "swirl" would lift the sediment
so it'd go out with the hot water.

self-cleaning water heaters
 

On Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:20:29 -0700, RJ wrote:
In water heaters, this builds up to a "paste"
that can't be flushed out using the water heater drain.
In time, the water heater must be replaced.

I suspect you can still back-flush it, or remove the lower element and
scrape it with something - it might not get it all, but if it's done
every once in a while (annually, say) it can probably be done well enough
to extend the life of the tank considerably - up until the point that
the tank outright fails, I suppose.