A couple parts in my A.O. Smith Power Vent Design GPHE-50 hot water heater
have failed. I don't have the parts cost yet, but the fellow estimates they
will cost $700-800. As it is seven years old, it probably makes more sense
to replace the whole unit.

I need a direct vent. I have no flue available. It is 50 gallons.

Looking at Amazon for what units exist, I find reliability issues posted
for every one I can find. Some more severe than others. Are there any of
these units that are reliable?

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

A couple parts in my A.O. Smith Power Vent Design GPHE-50 hot water heater
have failed. I don't have the parts cost yet, but the fellow estimates they
will cost $700-800. As it is seven years old, it probably makes more sense
to replace the whole unit.

I need a direct vent. I have no flue available. It is 50 gallons.

Looking at Amazon for what units exist, I find reliability issues posted
for every one I can find. Some more severe than others. Are there any of
these units that are reliable?

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

Amazon does not have everything. Go to a local plumbing supply where the pros go. They can tell you what units they sell the most replacement parts for.

On 12/7/2015 7:41 PM, John G wrote:

A couple parts in my A.O. Smith Power Vent Design GPHE-50 hot water
heater have failed. I don't have the parts cost yet, but the fellow
estimates they will cost $700-800. As it is seven years old, it probably
makes more sense to replace the whole unit.

I need a direct vent. I have no flue available. It is 50 gallons.

Looking at Amazon for what units exist, I find reliability issues posted
for every one I can find. Some more severe than others. Are there any of
these units that are reliable?

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

Amazon does not have everything. Go to a local plumbing supply where the
pros go. They can tell you what units they sell the most replacement parts
for.

That's misleading as it doesn't tell you how many units are being
serviced (with those repairs) nor how many are being SCRAPPED
(instead of repaired).

I used that reasoning to try to evaluate large TV's, LCD monitors,
etc. -- look to see which ones were being recycled (scrapped) AS
defective and avoid those brands!
"Gee, I've NEVER seen a Footastic TV! They *must* make the
most reliable sets!!"

"Wow! Never seen a Curtis Mathis TV! I guess those are truly
as good as folks suggest!"
etc.

On 12/7/2015 6:05 PM, Don Wiss wrote:
A couple parts in my A.O. Smith Power Vent Design GPHE-50 hot water
heater have failed. I don't have the parts cost yet, but the fellow
estimates they will cost $700-800. As it is seven years old, it
probably makes more sense to replace the whole unit.

I need a direct vent. I have no flue available. It is 50 gallons.

Looking at Amazon for what units exist, I find reliability issues
posted for every one I can find. Some more severe than others. Are
there any of these units that are reliable?

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).


Given the seeming high cost of these units and their repair parts, have
you considered an electric water hearer? You'll have to factor in the
initial cost, estimated life, and comparative utility (gas vs
electricity) bills to determine if it is worth your bother to continue
with gas.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 7:59:21 AM UTC-5, Peter wrote:
On 12/7/2015 6:05 PM, Don Wiss wrote:
A couple parts in my A.O. Smith Power Vent Design GPHE-50 hot water
heater have failed. I don't have the parts cost yet, but the fellow
estimates they will cost $700-800. As it is seven years old, it
probably makes more sense to replace the whole unit.

I need a direct vent. I have no flue available. It is 50 gallons.

Looking at Amazon for what units exist, I find reliability issues
posted for every one I can find. Some more severe than others. Are
there any of these units that are reliable?

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).


Given the seeming high cost of these units and their repair parts, have
you considered an electric water hearer? You'll have to factor in the
initial cost, estimated life, and comparative utility (gas vs
electricity) bills to determine if it is worth your bother to continue
with gas.

Have 10 years experience here with a direct vent State. No problems until
recently, when it started to have a problem, would lighting intermittently.
Took a look and there was a lot of rust that had fallen down and
accumulated on the burner and it was interfering with the flame
sensing rod. I took the burner out and gave it a good vacuuming.
They have a wire screen that goes over the top of the burner. Not
sure what it's purpose it, the flame goes through it. That had badly
deteriorated, was falling apart and was the source of most of the rust.
So, I replaced it and all is well again.

Have experience with another gas State that is around 15 year old
now. It's not direct vent. When it was maybe 5 years old, the
thermocouple went. I called up State, it was under warranty and
they had a replacement one here for free in 2 days.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with State.

On Tue, 8 Dec 2015 07:59:18 -0500, Peter wrote:

On 12/7/2015 6:05 PM, Don Wiss wrote:
A couple parts in my A.O. Smith Power Vent Design GPHE-50 hot water
heater have failed. I don't have the parts cost yet, but the fellow
estimates they will cost $700-800. As it is seven years old, it
probably makes more sense to replace the whole unit.

I need a direct vent. I have no flue available. It is 50 gallons.

Looking at Amazon for what units exist, I find reliability issues
posted for every one I can find. Some more severe than others. Are
there any of these units that are reliable?

Given the seeming high cost of these units and their repair parts, have
you considered an electric water hearer? You'll have to factor in the
initial cost, estimated life, and comparative utility (gas vs
electricity) bills to determine if it is worth your bother to continue
with gas.

Only to unconsider them quickly. Electricity is very expensive in NYC.
Natural gas is so low to be almost free. I have tenants that use a lot of
hot water.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

On Tue, 8 Dec 2015 07:59:18 -0500, Peter wrote:

Given the seeming high cost of these units and their repair parts, have
you considered an electric water hearer? You'll have to factor in the
initial cost, estimated life, and comparative utility (gas vs
electricity) bills to determine if it is worth your bother to continue
with gas.

To further complicate your suggestion I would need to get ConEd to bring in
new wire from the street. That would take months. The wire now is what my
electrician calls temporary. I think he estimated 6 gauge.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

On 12/8/2015 9:57 AM, Don Wiss wrote:

Only to unconsider them quickly. Electricity is very expensive in NYC.
Natural gas is so low to be almost free. I have tenants that use a lot of
hot water.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).


I'd suggested to get a couple more quotes. I
now see you're in NYC, which helps explain
why your quotes are expensive. Everything is
expensive.

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

On Mon, 07 Dec 2015 18:05:35 -0500, Don Wiss wrote:

A couple parts in my A.O. Smith Power Vent Design GPHE-50 hot water heater
have failed. I don't have the parts cost yet, but the fellow estimates they
will cost $700-800. As it is seven years old, it probably makes more sense
to replace the whole unit.

I got some prices. The warranty on my existing heater is six years. The
parts costs are (with labor):
motor $713
pressure switch $190
total $903

The same high efficiency unit is $2875. The regular one is $1895. And it
will come with a 10 year warranty.

With natural gas prices so low a high efficiency makes no sense.

I have a choice of Bradford White or AO Smith for the same price. Model
numbers not yet available. The HVAC guy (who is also my plumber) says the
two manufacturers are the same. Are they?

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 1:38:42 PM UTC-5, Don Wiss wrote:
On Mon, 07 Dec 2015 18:05:35 -0500, Don Wiss wrote:

A couple parts in my A.O. Smith Power Vent Design GPHE-50 hot water heater
have failed. I don't have the parts cost yet, but the fellow estimates they
will cost $700-800. As it is seven years old, it probably makes more sense
to replace the whole unit.

I got some prices. The warranty on my existing heater is six years. The
parts costs are (with labor):
motor $713
pressure switch $190
total $903

The same high efficiency unit is $2875. The regular one is $1895. And it
will come with a 10 year warranty.

With natural gas prices so low a high efficiency makes no sense.

I have a choice of Bradford White or AO Smith for the same price. Model
numbers not yet available. The HVAC guy (who is also my plumber) says the
two manufacturers are the same. Are they?

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

You can buy a direct vent water heater starting at ~$900. Buy one
and put in in yourself. Typical direct vent is already high enough
efficiency, you'd never recover the extra $1000 cost. A $1000 saved.
I know you're in NY, but this is still nuts, IMO. I can see those
prices for a new install, where the venting needs to be run, etc.
But not for a replacement. Same thing for the motor. If it just needs
a part or two, buy them online, Ebay, etc, put them in yourself.

On Tue, 8 Dec 2015, trader_4 wrote:

You can buy a direct vent water heater starting at ~$900. Buy one
and put in in yourself. Typical direct vent is already high enough
efficiency, you'd never recover the extra $1000 cost. A $1000 saved.
I know you're in NY, but this is still nuts, IMO. I can see those
prices for a new install, where the venting needs to be run, etc.
But not for a replacement. Same thing for the motor. If it just needs
a part or two, buy them online, Ebay, etc, put them in yourself.

There is no way I can get a couple hundred pound water heater up and down
the cellar stairs. Plus I have it under a maintenance contract. No way
would they service one I put in myself. Plus do it yourself gas plumbing is
not recommended. And I may have to reconfigure the PVC vent piping. And the
water feeds. Doing all this is not me.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

You can buy a direct vent water heater starting at ~$900. Buy one
and put in in yourself. Typical direct vent is already high enough
efficiency, you'd never recover the extra $1000 cost. A $1000 saved.
I know you're in NY, but this is still nuts, IMO. I can see those
prices for a new install, where the venting needs to be run, etc.
But not for a replacement. Same thing for the motor. If it just needs
a part or two, buy them online, Ebay, etc, put them in yourself.

There is no way I can get a couple hundred pound water heater up and down
the cellar stairs. Plus I have it under a maintenance contract. No way
would they service one I put in myself. Plus do it yourself gas plumbing is
not recommended. And I may have to reconfigure the PVC vent piping. And the
water feeds. Doing all this is not me.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).


Not a DIY job - but my big old propane unit was replaced recently
by a new smaller unit - the lone installer was here & gone in under
4 hours - basement stairs / plumbing / wiring / gas all done ...
and he had to replace the ~ 20 ft. vent pipe also !
I was quite impressed.
It's a rental unit - Bradford White.
John T.




--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

On Tue, 08 Dec 2015 16:32:58 -0500, Don Wiss
wrote:

On Tue, 8 Dec 2015, trader_4 wrote:

You can buy a direct vent water heater starting at ~$900. Buy one
and put in in yourself. Typical direct vent is already high enough
efficiency, you'd never recover the extra $1000 cost. A $1000 saved.
I know you're in NY, but this is still nuts, IMO. I can see those
prices for a new install, where the venting needs to be run, etc.
But not for a replacement. Same thing for the motor. If it just needs
a part or two, buy them online, Ebay, etc, put them in yourself.

There is no way I can get a couple hundred pound water heater up and down
the cellar stairs. Plus I have it under a maintenance contract. No way
would they service one I put in myself. Plus do it yourself gas plumbing is
not recommended. And I may have to reconfigure the PVC vent piping. And the
water feeds. Doing all this is not me.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).
That's all part of the cost of being a slum landlord.

On Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:16:39 -0500, wrote:

That's all part of the cost of being a slum landlord.

Slum landlord? I get $2900/month rent for a 1-1/2 bedroom apartment.

The replacement was scheduled for Wednesday morning. But after listening to
the noise from the fan, I'm thinking the fan has water in it. That would
explain the hot fan motor. Pushing water is a lot more effort than pushing
air. And it would explain the pressure sensor being set off.

Unfortunately they don't have an evening rep in Brooklyn this evening. So
Wednesday morning they will first check if I'm right.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

On 12/8/2015 5:22 PM, Don Wiss wrote:
On Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:16:39 -0500, wrote:

That's all part of the cost of being a slum landlord.

Slum landlord? I get $2900/month rent for a 1-1/2 bedroom apartment.

The replacement was scheduled for Wednesday morning. But after listening to
the noise from the fan, I'm thinking the fan has water in it. That would
explain the hot fan motor. Pushing water is a lot more effort than pushing
air. And it would explain the pressure sensor being set off.

Unfortunately they don't have an evening rep in Brooklyn this evening. So
Wednesday morning they will first check if I'm right.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).


You have an interesting website!

--
Maggie

On Tue, 8 Dec 2015 17:40:13 -0600, Muggles wrote:

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

You have an interesting website!

Thanks. It is almost 20 years of hand coding whatever interests me at the
time. (Or writing programs that generate the web pages.) These days I put
most effort into the historical websites. I always have lots of things to
scan, or scans and photos to get onto the web.

The web pages most relevant to this newsgroup aren't even on that page. I
have PDFs and links for *all* the equipment in the house. And similar pages
for tools, office equipment, etc. I use the house page as my way of
communicating with my architect what I want for my kitchen renovation.

I spent much of November on this page:
http://jwissandsons.com/family/grand-tour/
Many title cards were wrong and required research. (If you download the
film, the last title card hasn't been corrected yet.)

Don.
Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

On 12/8/2015 8:26 PM, Don Wiss wrote:
On Tue, 8 Dec 2015 17:40:13 -0600, Muggles wrote:

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

You have an interesting website!

Thanks. It is almost 20 years of hand coding whatever interests me at the
time. (Or writing programs that generate the web pages.) These days I put
most effort into the historical websites. I always have lots of things to
scan, or scans and photos to get onto the web.

The source code looks like html nice and neat, too.

The web pages most relevant to this newsgroup aren't even on that page. I
have PDFs and links for *all* the equipment in the house. And similar pages
for tools, office equipment, etc. I use the house page as my way of
communicating with my architect what I want for my kitchen renovation.

I spent much of November on this page:
http://jwissandsons.com/family/grand-tour/
Many title cards were wrong and required research. (If you download the
film, the last title card hasn't been corrected yet.)

Don.
Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).


That's a lot of info! All I can say is WOW. (NICE!)

--
Maggie

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 4:33:05 PM UTC-5, Don Wiss wrote:
On Tue, 8 Dec 2015, trader_4 wrote:

You can buy a direct vent water heater starting at ~$900. Buy one
and put in in yourself. Typical direct vent is already high enough
efficiency, you'd never recover the extra $1000 cost. A $1000 saved.
I know you're in NY, but this is still nuts, IMO. I can see those
prices for a new install, where the venting needs to be run, etc.
But not for a replacement. Same thing for the motor. If it just needs
a part or two, buy them online, Ebay, etc, put them in yourself.

There is no way I can get a couple hundred pound water heater up and down
the cellar stairs. Plus I have it under a maintenance contract. No way
would they service one I put in myself.

I would think those maintenance companies are happy to service anything
because they make lots of $$$ doing it and their contracts have plenty
of exclusions, like "not covered: problems due to incorrect installation".
If you have a contract and apparently it's having some kind of motor
issue, why isn't the maintenance company fixing it for free?

Plus do it yourself gas plumbing is
not recommended.

I do it and I sleep well at night. I've seen plenty of jobs totally
screwed up by "pros" too.


And I may have to reconfigure the PVC vent piping.

God forbid, cutting and gluing some PVC pipe.

And the
water feeds. Doing all this is not me.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

Then I guess you'll just have to pay $2K.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 5:04:06 PM UTC-5, wrote:

You can buy a direct vent water heater starting at ~$900. Buy one
and put in in yourself. Typical direct vent is already high enough
efficiency, you'd never recover the extra $1000 cost. A $1000 saved.
I know you're in NY, but this is still nuts, IMO. I can see those
prices for a new install, where the venting needs to be run, etc.
But not for a replacement. Same thing for the motor. If it just needs
a part or two, buy them online, Ebay, etc, put them in yourself.

There is no way I can get a couple hundred pound water heater up and down
the cellar stairs. Plus I have it under a maintenance contract. No way
would they service one I put in myself. Plus do it yourself gas plumbing is
not recommended. And I may have to reconfigure the PVC vent piping. And the
water feeds. Doing all this is not me.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).


Not a DIY job

That would seem to depend on who's the "yourself".

On Wed, 9 Dec 2015, trader_4 wrote:

I would think those maintenance companies are happy to service anything
because they make lots of $$$ doing it and their contracts have plenty
of exclusions, like "not covered: problems due to incorrect installation".
If you have a contract and apparently it's having some kind of motor
issue, why isn't the maintenance company fixing it for free?

It is not a maintenance company. It is not a warranty agreement. It is the
company that installed my HVAC and water heater. The agreement just means I
get two free checkups each year, guaranteed response and a discount on
service.

Very typical for HVAC around here.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 9:03:14 AM UTC-5, Don Wiss wrote:
On Wed, 9 Dec 2015, trader_4 wrote:

I would think those maintenance companies are happy to service anything
because they make lots of $$$ doing it and their contracts have plenty
of exclusions, like "not covered: problems due to incorrect installation".
If you have a contract and apparently it's having some kind of motor
issue, why isn't the maintenance company fixing it for free?

It is not a maintenance company. It is not a warranty agreement. It is the
company that installed my HVAC and water heater. The agreement just means I
get two free checkups each year, guaranteed response and a discount on
service.

Very typical for HVAC around here.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

So then I don't see what the real relevance is to them not fixing a water heater
that you would install yourself. And I sure wouldn't be paying for a company to
come look at my water heater twice a year. From the prices I've seen so far,
it sure doesn't look like you're getting any special discount. You can't
get a new direct vent replacement for a similar one that is already there
installed for $2000 - $2800 by many companies?

On Wed, 9 Dec 2015, trader_4 wrote:

So then I don't see what the real relevance is to them not fixing a water heater
that you would install yourself. And I sure wouldn't be paying for a company to
come look at my water heater twice a year.

They come twice a year to look at the furnace and a/c. Not the hot water
heater. Though they may also look at it while here.

From the prices I've seen so far,
it sure doesn't look like you're getting any special discount. You can't
get a new direct vent replacement for a similar one that is already there
installed for $2000 - $2800 by many companies?

The new Bradford White RG2PV50 is costing me $1895 installed. Plus sales
tax. And I presume I won't be charged for yesterday's and this morning's
service call. This morning he drained the water out of the fan. It is now
working again. But the bearings are shot in the motor and it is making
quite a bit of noise. But I do now have hot water until the new one arrives
this afternoon.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

On Wed, 09 Dec 2015 09:03:05 -0500, Don Wiss
wrote:

On Wed, 9 Dec 2015, trader_4 wrote:

I would think those maintenance companies are happy to service anything
because they make lots of $$$ doing it and their contracts have plenty
of exclusions, like "not covered: problems due to incorrect installation".
If you have a contract and apparently it's having some kind of motor
issue, why isn't the maintenance company fixing it for free?

It is not a maintenance company. It is not a warranty agreement. It is the
company that installed my HVAC and water heater. The agreement just means I
get two free checkups each year, guaranteed response and a discount on
service.

Very typical for HVAC around here.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).
If you have to install a new one, get a maintenance contract - $X
per year - they pay for all repairs or replacements required for as
long as you keep paying. Or rent the thing if you are more worried
about how long it will last than how much it will cost.

I know of quite a few that have lasted well over 5 years and since I
am capable of doing any required repairs, I wouldn't waste my money on
either of the aforementioned options.
Thankfully my house doesn't need a power vent and I replace my water
heater every 18 years or so when I notice signs of seepage.

I know of quite a few that have lasted well over 5 years and since I
am capable of doing any required repairs, I wouldn't waste my money on
either of the aforementioned options.
Thankfully my house doesn't need a power vent and I replace my water
heater every 18 years or so when I notice signs of seepage.


.... " well over __ ? __ years " ? Clare ? typo ?

My big old one was ~ 23 years old and probably easily repairable -
for another 5 or 10 years - I think it needed a new vent motor
contactor ? not sure.
- but because it was an old rental - it got replaced ..
Unfortunately I can't recall the make / model but it had maybe :
: ~ one service call
: almost zero routine maintenance
: 1 safety upgrade
vent pipe connection - not really part of the unit
I think I re-started it once or twice in 20 years.

Moral of the story :

Someone needs to tell our children and grandchildren - that -
- major household appliances _can and should be_
made to last 20 - 30 years !
Screw all the electronic computerized bells & whistles crap !
where it is not needed.

John T.



--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 5:34:19 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Wed, 09 Dec 2015 09:03:05 -0500, Don Wiss
wrote:

On Wed, 9 Dec 2015, trader_4 wrote:

I would think those maintenance companies are happy to service anything
because they make lots of $$$ doing it and their contracts have plenty
of exclusions, like "not covered: problems due to incorrect installation".
If you have a contract and apparently it's having some kind of motor
issue, why isn't the maintenance company fixing it for free?

It is not a maintenance company. It is not a warranty agreement. It is the
company that installed my HVAC and water heater. The agreement just means I
get two free checkups each year, guaranteed response and a discount on
service.

Very typical for HVAC around here.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).
If you have to install a new one, get a maintenance contract - $X
per year - they pay for all repairs or replacements required for as
long as you keep paying. Or rent the thing if you are more worried
about how long it will last than how much it will cost.

I know of quite a few that have lasted well over 5 years

Wow, 5+ years life on a water heater. How impressive!

On Wed, 09 Dec 2015 17:34:16 -0500, wrote:
If you have to install a new one, get a maintenance contract - $X
per year - they pay for all repairs or replacements required for as
long as you keep paying. Or rent the thing if you are more worried
about how long it will last than how much it will cost.

It is already installed. It includes the 10-year warranty upgrade kit.
Bradford White makes them to last 10 years, but the default is only a 6
year warranty. You pay a little extra and you get a 10-year sticker and a
10-year warranty.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

On 12/08/2015 04:32 PM, Don Wiss wrote:
There is no way I can get a couple hundred pound water heater up and down
the cellar stairs. Plus I have it under a maintenance contract. No way
would they service one I put in myself. Plus do it yourself gas plumbing is
not recommended. And I may have to reconfigure the PVC vent piping. And the
water feeds. Doing all this is not me.


Dirty Harry said it best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VrFV5r8cs0

On Wed, 09 Dec 2015 18:16:00 -0500, wrote:




I know of quite a few that have lasted well over 5 years and since I
am capable of doing any required repairs, I wouldn't waste my money on
either of the aforementioned options.
Thankfully my house doesn't need a power vent and I replace my water
heater every 18 years or so when I notice signs of seepage.


... " well over __ ? __ years " ? Clare ? typo ?

Yup. 15

My big old one was ~ 23 years old and probably easily repairable -
for another 5 or 10 years - I think it needed a new vent motor
contactor ? not sure.
- but because it was an old rental - it got replaced ..
Unfortunately I can't recall the make / model but it had maybe :
: ~ one service call
: almost zero routine maintenance
: 1 safety upgrade
vent pipe connection - not really part of the unit
I think I re-started it once or twice in 20 years.

Moral of the story :

Someone needs to tell our children and grandchildren - that -
- major household appliances _can and should be_
made to last 20 - 30 years !
Screw all the electronic computerized bells & whistles crap !
where it is not needed.

John T.



--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---
We have pretty agressive water so the tanks on mine generally start
to perforate at about 18 years - Both were still working well when the
floor started getting damp under the heater. Current heater is now 54
months old (actually will be on Friday)

If the OP is getting water in the blower something is not set up
properly - for sure. He's likely got a backslope on the vent, and the
vent is likely too long, so he's getting condensation in the pipe, and
it's running back to the heater instead of running out the vent.

Doesn't matter how good a product is _ if it is not properly
installed it WILL fail early.

On Wed, 09 Dec 2015 18:54:26 -0500, Don Wiss
wrote:

On Wed, 09 Dec 2015 17:34:16 -0500, wrote:
If you have to install a new one, get a maintenance contract - $X
per year - they pay for all repairs or replacements required for as
long as you keep paying. Or rent the thing if you are more worried
about how long it will last than how much it will cost.

It is already installed. It includes the 10-year warranty upgrade kit.
Bradford White makes them to last 10 years, but the default is only a 6
year warranty. You pay a little extra and you get a 10-year sticker and a
10-year warranty.

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).
Check your venting - make sure you have drop to the outside, not
back to the heater, or the warranty may be no good. They don't
guarantee against faulty installation.

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 10:57:44 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Wed, 09 Dec 2015 18:16:00 -0500, wrote:




I know of quite a few that have lasted well over 5 years and since I
am capable of doing any required repairs, I wouldn't waste my money on
either of the aforementioned options.
Thankfully my house doesn't need a power vent and I replace my water
heater every 18 years or so when I notice signs of seepage.


... " well over __ ? __ years " ? Clare ? typo ?

Yup. 15

My big old one was ~ 23 years old and probably easily repairable -
for another 5 or 10 years - I think it needed a new vent motor
contactor ? not sure.
- but because it was an old rental - it got replaced ..
Unfortunately I can't recall the make / model but it had maybe :
: ~ one service call
: almost zero routine maintenance
: 1 safety upgrade
vent pipe connection - not really part of the unit
I think I re-started it once or twice in 20 years.

Moral of the story :

Someone needs to tell our children and grandchildren - that -
- major household appliances _can and should be_
made to last 20 - 30 years !
Screw all the electronic computerized bells & whistles crap !
where it is not needed.

John T.



--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---
We have pretty agressive water so the tanks on mine generally start
to perforate at about 18 years - Both were still working well when the
floor started getting damp under the heater. Current heater is now 54
months old (actually will be on Friday)

If the OP is getting water in the blower something is not set up
properly - for sure. He's likely got a backslope on the vent, and the
vent is likely too long, so he's getting condensation in the pipe, and
it's running back to the heater instead of running out the vent.


More idiocy. Look at the install for a direct vent water heater.
The vents typically go *uphill*. Otherwise in a basement, where most
of them get installed, where would you vent it? Into the ground?



Doesn't matter how good a product is _ if it is not properly
installed it WILL fail early.

On Wed, 09 Dec 2015 22:57:41 -0500, wrote:

If the OP is getting water in the blower something is not set up
properly - for sure. He's likely got a backslope on the vent, and the
vent is likely too long, so he's getting condensation in the pipe, and
it's running back to the heater instead of running out the vent.

The water may have had something to do with the motor failing and the
pressure switch going bad.

As pointed out in another followup, you have to go uphill in most
installations. This is what what they do to keep the condensate from going
back into the fan:

http://donwiss.com/pictures/misc/CondensatePipe.jpg

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

On Thu, 10 Dec 2015 19:42:10 -0500, Don Wiss
wrote:

On Wed, 09 Dec 2015 22:57:41 -0500, wrote:

If the OP is getting water in the blower something is not set up
properly - for sure. He's likely got a backslope on the vent, and the
vent is likely too long, so he's getting condensation in the pipe, and
it's running back to the heater instead of running out the vent.

The water may have had something to do with the motor failing and the
pressure switch going bad.

As pointed out in another followup, you have to go uphill in most
installations. This is what what they do to keep the condensate from going
back into the fan:

http://donwiss.com/pictures/misc/CondensatePipe.jpg

Don. www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).
Then you need to keep the hose clear and the bucket empty. Much
easier to just run the exhaust as high as possible at the heater and
slpe, even 1/2 inch in 20 feet, to the outside. Any condensation
coming back into the fan WILL damage both the fan and the pressure
switch - guaranteed. And if there is signs of water in the fan or
switch, when it comes to warranty you are SOL. Don't blame the water
heater or the power vent technology for the stupidity of the
installer. If anything the installer should be on the hook for the
repairs