Water Heater Warranties 101

By Dustin Bowerman

Many homeowners only think about their water heaters when they stop working. As long as the heater consistently delivers hot water, why worry? But if the heater does stops working, fails to adequately heat water, starts leaking, or starts making noise, it becomes an immediate top-of-mind priority.

A water heater failure can be a major disruption, requiring unplanned expenses, cold showers or missed work if you need to coordinate repairs or replacement. The routine purchase and installation of a new water heater can be a significant investment for homeowners; the cost of replacement can increase significantly in urgent situations on weekends or holidays.

One of the first steps some homeowners will take in the case of a water heater emergency is to examine the manufacturer’s warranty. It is strongly recommended that homeowners read and understand their water heater’s warranty as they would for any other household appliance, so they know what to expect and what to do when there’s a product failure.

While a manufacturer’s warranty is an important tool that helps homeowners protect the value of their water heater investment, like most warranties, there are some limitations and exclusions. A manufacturer’s warranty usually applies to limited and specific circumstances, typically covering demonstrable manufacturing defects that compromise or impair proper water heater operations. They generally don’t cover routine replacement or repair related to regular wear and tear, deferred maintenance or improper installation.

What Does a Warranty Cover?

Ultimately, every water heater, regardless of application or type, will need to be replaced. Manufacturer warranties are not intended to cover the cost of replacing equipment that has simply reached the end of its lifecycle. Repair or replacement due to regular performance or deferred maintenance is not covered. A separate homeowner’s warranty or maintenance agreement with your contractor, however, may apply in these situations.

What a manufacturer’s warranty does cover, usually, is any malfunction caused by defects in the material or workmanship used to construct the heater for a specific period of time.

Water quality, climate, air quality, and other localized conditions can significantly impact the performance and lifecycle of a water heater. The expected lifecycle of the same model may differ, depending on the conditions and application. A manufacturer’s warranty does not cover the effects of those conditions.

Most warranties also require proper installation and application to be valid. Product registration may be necessary in order to activate the warranty.

A warranty applies to the original owner of the heater and in many cases to all subsequent owners, as well, as long as the heater and its application continue to meet the required standards.

How Long Does a Warranty Last?

The expected lifespan for a residential water heater can vary greatly, depending on the type of heater, the climate, water quality in the area, and application. The range is around 10-13 years.

Warranties, however, are typically valid for a defined period of time, up to 10 years in some cases. The length of a warranty depends on the manufacturer and is generally related to industry standards and norms.

During that time, as long as the basic installation and application standards continue to be met, the full terms of the warranty will remain in effect. Once the warranty period expires, however, all protection provided by the warranty also expires.

What’s an Extended Warranty?

In order to continue the protection offered by the original warranty, many manufacturers also offer extended warranties. These warranties allow homeowners to extend the protections of their warranty for a specified period of time, around two to four years in most cases.

Upgrading to an extended warranty does not expand coverage to include more than the original warranty but can provide additional peace of mind for homeowners for a longer period of time.

While warranties are a useful tool for homeowners, their limited scope means they should be part of an overall strategy for getting the best performance and longest use from a water heater. Ultimately, the best protection against unexpected water heater failure is planned maintenance and regular repairs, when necessary.

Regular professional inspections and upkeep can help heaters last longer and reduce the risk of emergency breakdown. An investment in scheduled expert maintenance provides value by helping homeowners extend the life of their equipment and avoid unplanned replacement costs. In addition to service and maintenance, a trusted plumbing professional can offer crucial guidance on getting the most from a water heater.

Above all, with warranties and their conditions varying from one manufacturer to the next, homeowners should be sure to read and understand the warranty and discuss its terms with the professional who installed the product or is currently handling its maintenance.

Dustin Bowerman is senior director – field services for Bradford White Water Heaters, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks. For more information, visit https://www.bradfordwhite.com.