I am writing this review to warn people not to buy GE electric water heaters, I purchased the 40 gal with the 9 year warranty, this water heater didn't last 1 year and I was replacing the top element because it burned up and it was leaking water passed the gasket, I am a Electrical technician by trade so I feel I am very qualified to replace something as easy as a burn out element. Just to be on the safe side I tested the thermostat control and it turned out to be defective as well, so I traveled to the nearest home depot where I purchased it and bought the parts that I needed, I installed the element filled the tank looked for leaks and bingo hot water again, great right? WRONG! after 3 months of successfully having hot water I notice a funny noise from the water heater after inspecting the source of the sound I found it to be not only the element that I changed but also the lower element, BOTH WERE LEAKING WATER ALL OVER THE FLOOR! What kind of crap is GE selling? who is building these pieces of junk? SO now here I am again draining the dam tank, driving again to Home depot getting a new element for the top and bottom, but the top element didn't appear to be burnt in any way but I replace it anyway, I tightened them up using a 1 and a half inch socket and made sure they were snug filled it up with water and WATER LEAKING OUT OF BOTH ELEMENTS!! I tightened both elements but it didn't help still leaking water. I told the other electricians at work what happened to me and one of them told me that they had the same problem, he said they just will not seal! So save yourself a lot of grief and do not buy this product. GE they bring good things to death.

This was a 20 gallon "personal" water heater that we used for our kitchen. The unit came with a faulty pressure relief valve, which had to be replaced. The water heater was generally noisy when heating, but otherwise performed okay. After two years of use, the water heater developed an leak in the tank. I called the GE service number (since the warranty was five years) to see about getting the unit replaced. The service representative took all of my information, then insisted that I get a plumber out to diagnose the problem. I explained that the unit was not leaking at any of the fittings or around the heating element, and a calling a plumber would be a wasted exercise. I also explained that getting a plumber out to my house would cost as much as a new 20 gallon water heater, and that I was perfectly capable of replacing the unit. The rep became surly and just kept repeating that they would only deal with a plumber. I ended up buying a replacement Whirlpool water heater, which is much quieter. When I took out the GE unit, I discovered that the leak was coming from the bottom of the tank. I'll never buy another GE appliance after that experience.

This 48 gallon gas water heater is energy efficient, but every time it lights itself up it sounds like an explosion throughout my 2 story condo. I called the help line and they said the noise is not that bad and that it is caused by marbles that make the tank energy efficient. They offered to send me some sort of adapter that might help, but I would have to pay someone to install them. Then they changed the subject and did not send me any thing. This water heater is inside and literally sounds like a sonic boom and rattles the windows.