Rheem Marathon?

[SunTzuMD]

Anyone have any experience with these water heaters?

Our situation: New home owners, family of 5, current water heater is an electric 50 gallon heater installed in 1998. We are planning for a long term stay - as in forever.

Long term plans include solar thermal. Considering switching to a propane water heater, but talked to a certified green plumber the other day, and seems like the cost of electric is pretty competitive with the cost of propane around here. He suggested we look into one of these.

The more I think about it, the less it makes sense to go with an uber efficient hot water heater, that in a few years will be backing up a solar thermal system.

Theses can also be converted into a solar system with a combination heat exchanger / controller / pump unit from Rheem.

Share your thoughts please.

 

[-Spike-]

The only thing that terminally kills water heaters around here is tank corrosion, everything else that fails can be replaced. Sounds like a good long-term plan, although these are usually 3x the cost of traditional tanks. I've never had one, but I've done a little research for my job on water heaters in general, which indicated there is very little difference in quality or longevity with any traditional water heater manufacturers with the exception of the Marathon. None of my customers have wanted to spend the extra to get one, so my experience is purely theoretical and hearsay from water heater suppliers.

 

[Walton]

My power company offers rebates on these; you may want to check with yours.

 

[AJP]

I looked at these for a cottage where the options were oil/propane or electric. I ended up with a BW electric cause I couldn't cost justify the Marathon. Eventually I'll find an indirect heater to mate to the hydronic system being installed.

FWIW...... in the current residence - I just replaced a Rheem gas (NG) that was installed 21 years ago with another Rheem ... unfortunately both rentals - my plan was to go with a purchased BW GX series but was too slow off the mark and the old unit sprung a leak 3 days before Xmas - so the utility company showed up in a day and did a fine job of R&R'ing the leaker. Cant complain with 21 years of life .. and the utility company made out like bandits!

IMO It seems to me if you can get 20 years out of a standard water tank... the plastic Marathon may not give the payback expected.- course it is always a crap shoot!