My 5 Year Old Rheem Water Heater Has Rust - Need Opinions Please

[terri232]

I have a Rheem Classic 50 gallon water heater installed Jan 2016 which is showing rust on top so it will be 5 years old and has a 6 year warranty. I don't think this is covered by a warranty but I want to get some opinions. I had a handyman here who noticed it and brought it to my attention or I would never have noticed it - am too short and too old. Thank you -

 

[skeezix]

Looks like your leak is between the copper flex connector and the steel input pipe of the heater. 'Fraid you're outta luck as far as a warranty is concerned. Hope you have a drip pan underneath the heater to catch the dripping water.

 

[breplum]

Ideally, the nipple on top would get replaced along with changing to a fresh stainless steel flex.
Unfortunately, I think that Rheem uses a dip tube dielectric water heater nipple which, because of it's length, may require the WH to be drained and tipped on its side to replace.
The nut on the nipple can be taken off and the nipple examined, if not too bad, just replace the flex line and see if leaking stops.

 

[Jeff Handy]

Is there a flexible anode that comes attached to a dielectric nipple?

 

[terri232]

I am sorry but I am an 85 year old and don't know the first thing about water heaters - only that it is rusting!

 

[Jeff Handy]

If the nipple is deteriorated, your handyman should be able to remove and replace, with one similar to this.
It has a flexible anode rod hanging from it.
That’s only if the old nipple had an anode attached to it.
He can bust up the old anode rod as it comes out, no need to tip the heater.

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Water-H...inc-Anode-Rod-Nipple-Type-Flexible-4-sections

 

[Jeff Handy]

The anode rod is there to divert corrosion to itself, to help the heater survive longer.

 

[terri232]

So I had a plumber take a look. Said the flexible coils should never have been copper and is changing it today along with the nipple. He said he had never seen anything like this before - has been in the business for years. There is a leak as well - he was highly recommended as trustworthy and honest. I will post again!

 

[terri232]

He contacted Rheem and they are replacing the unit - said it is not repairable.

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

I am sorry but I am an 85 year old and don't know the first thing about water heaters - only that it is rusting!

Don't sell yourself short (pardon the pun, you already indicated you were not tall); you were smart enough to come here for some guidance and also smart enough to know that what doesn't look right, usually isn't.

 

[terri232]

HA! Thank you!

 

[terri232]

So - now I need some further opinions from you helpful guys. Rheem has deemed the heater unrepairable and it is covered under my warranty. The heater I have was purchased through a wholesale plumbing supply company and because of that, it has to be replaced from them. So, here is my question - they want to charge me $100 to "swap it out" or as a fee to remove it from inventory and give it to my plumber. I don't know if there is a name for this procedure, but am trying to figure out if this is a legitimate charge or if my plumber is giving me the run around and wants to add on another $100 to his charge. Thanks once again!

 

[skeezix]

$100 to "swap it out" (meaning remove The old heater, install the new one, and haul the old heater away) doesn't seem like too much to spend on that (unless you're a penny-pinching old miser like me...)

 

[terri232]

No - that is not what I meant! The plumber is charging for installation etc. I mean the wholesale plumbing supply company where he has to pick it up is charging the fee...

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

The Rheem warranty is from Rheem, not from the original supplier. There are probably a large number of plumbing wholesalers in the Boca area or the environs. Have Rheem authorize this from someone else, and tell Rheem that this [unscrupulous?] wholesaler wants to charge YOU for "administering" a warranty issue which is normally paid for by Rheem.

 

[SHEPLMBR]

No - that is not what I meant! The plumber is charging for installation etc. I mean the wholesale plumbing supply company where he has to pick it up is charging the fee...

Is that because your old one is not NAECA compliant and the replacement would be?

 

[Piping Hot]

sounds like a restocking fee. Doesn't seem like there should be such a thing on a warranty replacement.
BTW, the original leak looks like a "dissimilar metals" problem (galvanic corrosion) to me. You might want to add another ground rod to your electrical service, at least 6' from the first, and then disconnect the ground to your water pipe: this might reduce stray electrical currents on your pipes that will increase galvanic problems. Of course, changing out the copper as your plumber is doing is likely to help too.

 

[TomFOhio]

I know what sheplembr is talking about. A few years back Bradford White was charging an upgrade fee if the old tank
was not up to the new government standards. Maybe on Monday call Rheem and ask them what is going on.

 

[SHEPLMBR]

I know what sheplembr is talking about. A few years back Bradford White was charging an upgrade fee if the old tank
was not up to the new government standards. Maybe on Monday call Rheem and ask them what is going on.

And with this program, instead of getting a pro-rated warranty you get a whole new warranty.

 

[terri232]

Just to keep you up to date - I appealed to one of the CEO's at Rheem and they have refunded the fee that the wholesaler charged me.