Well, all I can say is this one was made in 1994 and installed in 1996. It is July 2010 and it is still going. There is little or no rust when I do an annual drain. There are several brands that only plumbers use that no one has heard of or use regularly. Just like a professional painter would only use sherwin williams paint and never Behr.

But, I am just a home owner with a 14 year old water heater with somewhat hard water.

I am disgusted that our water heater from Bradford White only lasted 3 1/2 years. I am even more disgusted that our carpet may be ruined, my back is thrown out, and I was ringing towells out all night.

Thank you Bradford White for such a great product. I thought Water Heaters were supposed to last 7-10 years? Really?.....REALLY?????

Sincerely,

Disgusted in Littleton

I have a Bradford White Hot Water heater that lasted less than 3 years. It buckled at the top and started to burst upward. I was out of town when this broke and had to rely on the plumber for help. Bradford White turned him down for the 6 year warrantee stating that the water pressure was too high and that is what caused the problem. They said that without even seeing or checking the water pressure. My plumber went along with it and installed another Bradford White. I told him on the phone to check the water pressure and he said it is 70 PSI. I told him to lower it. He said it didn't need lowered and shouldn't worry unless it was like 120 or 150 psi. So why did he let Bradford White tell him that 40 > 60 PSI is necessary if 70 is perfectly normal? >> We'll see where this one goes.

Just had to replace my Electric 50 gallon water heater after 37 years and I have been happy with our Bradford White.
I will use this brand again.

Typical builder's unit. At the 4 year, 11 month point, ... no hot water. Local electric company says they will repair for free if under 5 years, because they have control unit to shut off during peak hours. Everyone in our development is replacing between 5 and 7 years.

We never had enough hot water in the 5 years we lived here. What hot there was never got above 123 degrees as measured at the outflow. Fix it for free, or buy a new one? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Free is good..... unit isn't.

Went with a tankless, gas fired unit. Rebates from local gas company, heater manufacturer and tax credit from gov. made it a no-brainer.

If you want a mediocre, high energy consuming, low performing unit that will die in 5 years, the BW is for you.

Sorry, this was posted incorrectly under comments for another 'happy' BW owner...

Rerplaced an old AO SMith, a little upset I did not spend more money and buy a high recvovery unit. 3100 square foot home in NJ ranch style so their are very long runs of piping for my hot water. Big issue in waiting for hot water, and considered having a loop installed but with energy costs what they are I guess I cna wait a little for the hot water.

Efficiencey...absolutley no difference in utility bills vs. my old AO SMith with 25 pounds of sediment in it. So note to self..Bradford White cost $400+ and when I sell the home the buyer will just notice that the tank has been updated, no one other than a Plumber has ever heard of Bradford White, versus an AO SMith replacement whihc would have cost double but wopuld have been more efficient and been a selling point once I sell the home.

SPend now save later, save now spend every month, bad decision on the purchase, unit runs out of water after one 20 minute shower, while HE WHorpool Duet front loader washing machine is running, not sure if that is suppossed to happen, but again I am dissapointed that I di d not spend more money upfront. Its like buing a Ford Taurus instead of a Honda Accord, one performs better, is more expensive intially, retains its value and perfomrs more efficienctly..... and the other is cheaper...