My last "big box store" WH I installed myself lasted 20 years (replaced 2022) and only had to replace the gas control valve, pop off valve and hot side flex hose during that time period...
@SmedleyPlumbing
5 ай бұрын
Only? Those are three fairly significant repairs.
@vorant77
5 ай бұрын
@@SmedleyPlumbing Maybe if I paid a plumber to do it, but I DIY 90% of everything around my house.
@SmedleyPlumbing
5 ай бұрын
@@vorant77 what I'm saying is that you're standing up for a water heater that's let you down on several major components.
@ericresh3268
5 ай бұрын
My last box store water heater lasted ~20 years and I replaced nothing on it. Just replaced it myself with another box store unit.
@SmedleyPlumbing
5 ай бұрын
Things were definitely different 20 years ago. It's thought that the units actually used to be the same back then. Not so true today.
@efr2681
4 ай бұрын
We live in Vegas and the average life span seems to be 9 years….horrible water. But, have seen the go longer, and less. The one in this house from new was replaced at 7 years by a previous owner so I assume something went wrong on the early side. I don’t know what Pulte uses in their new homes, but assume it is not box store. I know the appliances (Monogram) here are not like other Monogram’s we have had so assume a big builder like that has some kind of builder special model. Has the fancy label but cuts back on normal features.
@efr2681
4 ай бұрын
These are excellent videos. Thank you. We are getting to do a ‘proactive’ 75 Gal replacement and trying to learn what the ‘best’ brand is…if there is such a thing. The deliverance between pro and big box is something I did not know. Wonder if that is true for all brands…our plumber is offering up a Bradford White. Interesting observation of house Vegas we just moved into…15 years old, unlike our Reno house it has no expansion tank.
@SmedleyPlumbing
4 ай бұрын
Bradford is good. Rely on them for guidance on if a thermal expansion tank is needed.
@BenZrealty
4 ай бұрын
Awesome video! ❤
@SmedleyPlumbing
4 ай бұрын
Thank you!!
@Dave-pq2rr
5 ай бұрын
Just watched this video , it was very thorough but what is the difference in cost. I purchased a Rheem platium 40 gal and installed it myself. Total cost was about 850.00 Home depot wanted to charge me 2800.00 back in June 2019. It has been running with no problems since install. So if I can even buy one from a plumber with out them installing it. so if I get my 12 year warranty out of this for 850.00 I will be fine with this cheaper water heater.
@SmedleyPlumbing
5 ай бұрын
Cheaper works.....until it doesn't.
@BZ1340
2 ай бұрын
Curoius our gas water heater in our townhouse the Pressure relief valve goes off every 4 to 5 months then its good again. The water out the tap is extremely hot. Today it did it again The units have a main water feed with a central expansion tank for every 4 units. Water heater is 18 year old so I know its close. Is this the gas valve malfunctioning to keep the limit to the adjusted heat temp
@SmedleyPlumbing
2 ай бұрын
Sounds like your thermal expansion tank is either undersized or the bladder has failed.
@BZ1340
2 ай бұрын
@@SmedleyPlumbing So i assume the townhouse board needs to investigate the expansion tank in the unit its installed in that controls ours and the other 3. I appreciate the incite on maybe the issue. P.S. I havent seen much update on your Transit electric since you first did all the vids on it
@takismantas1159
3 ай бұрын
I am glad you expose the differences. Those water heaters shouldn’t be allowed to carry the same model number. By the way it’s not just AO Smith. Rheem does the same thing. This practice is gaining popularity with other product lines. For example the Zoeller pumps at Lowe’s do have plastic covers instead of the metal ones found on pumps sold either direct from Zoeller or through supply houses. I haven’t weighted them or disassemble them to see motor and impeller differences. I personally find this practice deceiving and unethical in name of profiting a few more bucks leaving an unsuspected customer with an inferior unit. I wouldn’t had an issue if they were sold as different models but selling them as identical it shouldn’t be allowed.
@SmedleyPlumbing
3 ай бұрын
Yep
@superbeanboy
5 ай бұрын
Prograde 3800 installed. Is it really 3k different for a few more pounds of weight?
@SmedleyPlumbing
5 ай бұрын
You just explained an impossible scenario. You're comparing the installed price of a pro grade unit versus the over-counter price of a box store unit. One of them results in a complete professional installation while the other one results with you standing in the parking lot of a box store with a water heater that you can't fit into your car. If I were to compare the pricing of a box of Mercedes parts compared to the pricing of a completed and professionally assembled Mercedes I would be shocked at the difference as well. However one of them is a box of parts in my driveway while the other is a completed and professionally assembled car that comes with warranty and years of trouble for use.
@kitmarshall4084
5 ай бұрын
Not for me, for 3k could buy another 3 box store water heater, say they last 10 years each, that’s 30 years… is the pro grade going last 30 years?
@kitmarshall4084
5 ай бұрын
@@SmedleyPlumbingyou know that the Mercedes example doesn’t make sense because we’re using the same pipe and internals from the house… the better example is would you rather pay Mercedes to rip you off on a battery change or do it yourself, since you’re just replacing a component and not getting into the internals of the house, ie the engine.
@SmedleyPlumbing
5 ай бұрын
@@kitmarshall4084 shame on you for assuming that a service provider is charging somebody for repairs and classifying that as a rip off. Millions of people every day spend excessive amounts of money on Starbucks coffee. Coffee they could make at home for a fraction of the price. But they don't complain because they enjoy the experience that comes from somebody else making their coffee. People's time is worth more than other people's time. And for some people it's actually cheaper for them to pay somebody else to do the repairs for them than it is for them to drop what they're doing and make the repairs themselves.
@kitmarshall4084
5 ай бұрын
@@SmedleyPlumbingi think you enjoy getting rip off… or insane rich that you’ve lost touch with common folks and resort to shaming those that try to save a buck or two
@DZ-hu2sv
4 ай бұрын
Ok so was it me or did the pro grade fail first??? So pro grade weighs more and cost more and fails under pressure first....
@DZ-hu2sv
4 ай бұрын
I mean nipples move and twist I can almost bet on the pipe attached to water heater going to snap
@SmedleyPlumbing
4 ай бұрын
The box store unit started leaking first. The pro grade held more and then popped.
@tabelq
5 ай бұрын
Too many cuts. I’m not seeing it.
@SmedleyPlumbing
5 ай бұрын
This is the short version. Check our channel for the full version.
@vincentmendola4339
5 ай бұрын
Bought my 50gal water heater in 1995 I take pretty good care of it and in 2019 my pressure valve started to drip I changed it and here in 2024 of may working great good hot water no problems bought it at Westchester square plumbing supply in the bronx ny when I bought the house been dealing with them since the 60s
@KeithHemenway
2 ай бұрын
Bradford White does NOT sell through big box stores. Every Bradford White is For the Pro®.
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