Rheem Hot Water Heaters Review and Buying Tips

Explore benefits of Rheem hot water heaters for home use, including features to look for. Find the review of electric and gas-powered models, including heat pumps, tanks, and ultra-efficient tankless and condensing types.

Rheem hot water heaters can be found in all popular categories, including gas, electric, tank, tankless, and hybrid. Some models are built as budget-friendly models that come with a 6-year warranty and include standard-type elements.

At the same time, superior units utilize high-quality elements, advanced features, and extended warranties (some models have a limited lifetime warranty). Some of these innovative features include powered anodes, smart features, Wi-Fi capability, EcoNet, a powerful self-diagnostic system, condensing technology, and a self-cleaning system.

The best examples of the advanced models are those with tankless and condensing technology utilizing natural gas or propane and heat pumps that use electricity. Such models are Energy Star compliant, which ensures higher savings and energy conservation.

Popular models 

• Rheem 40-gal atmospherically vented (6-year warranty)
• Rheem electric 50-gal (6-year warranty)
• Rheem gas tankless 9.5 GPM - high efficiency 

(sold on homedepot.com)

Choose a type

Rheem tank-type water heaters

There is a wide selection of Rheem tank-type water heaters powered by gas or electricity, all grouped in several categories. The tank-type models are designed for indoor installation in utility rooms, basements, laundry, garage and attics, even mobile homes. The largest and one of the most important components is the storage tank that usually comes with a capacity from 20 to 80 gallons, and together with the first-hour rating, is one of the main factors when sizing the heater.

Rheem Professional series vs. Performance series

Rheem water heaters are available to customers as a Professional and Performance series.

A Professional series of water heaters is available only through Rheem contractors (licensed plumbers and wholesalers). Such water heaters are built tough and include upgraded features such as the quality gas valve, brass drain valve, stainless steel heating elements, self-cleaning system, and tank lining. They can last longer, and the warranty is also superior.

A Performance series can be mostly found in retail box (hardware) stores such as The Home Depot.

Rheem gas water heaters

Rheem gas water heaters are typically atmospherically vented using a piezo ignitor and pilot light for lighting gas. These are also the most affordable type and come mainly with lower efficiency. Other gas models are fan-assisted or power-vented, also direct and power-direct vented, providing even more flexibility during installation. Yes, they cost more, but they also offer more, such as a higher energy factor.

You can even buy Rheem hot water heaters that are Energy Star approved and utilize condensing technology for greater savings, also eco-friendly models with the Low NOx burners, high recovery models, and heaters specifically designed for manufactured homes.

The tank-type models come with the standard exclusive features such as the EverKleen, Guardian, and FVIR system. In addition to these features, the most sophisticated models also utilize smart technology, self-diagnostic system, EcoNet home integration, commercial-grade components, and extended warranties.

Models to consider:

• Professional Prestige Series: High-Efficiency Condensing Power Direct Vent
• Professional Classic Plus Series: Induced Draft
• Professional Prestige Series: Powered Damper

Rheem electric water heaters

Rheem electric water heaters offer various sizes so that they can be used from small to large homes. If you need a tank-type unit for point-of-use service or storage tank for the whole-house heating and with over 100 gallons, Rheem has it. Even the electric thermal storage tanks and Table Top types.

One of the most popular and top seller electric water heaters from Rheem is Marathon – "the most durable electric water heater ever made." Quality features such as the EverKleen system, seamless polybutene storage tank, stainless steel heating elements, and limited lifetime warranty are some of the exceptional features Marathon offers.

Rheem electric models are also available with digital controllers, premium-grade anode rods, diagnostic system, and EcoNet integration, including the Rheemglas tank lining protection and EverKleen self-cleaning system.

Rheem tankless

Rheem offers gas and tankless electric models for homeowners looking to buy a water heater for an on-demand and continuous supply of hot water. Rheem tankless heaters are small, compact, wall hanging, powerful, and friendly to the environment.

Rheem RTEX electric tankless water heaters

Rheem electric and tankless water heaters are ideal for point-of-use applications such as bathrooms or kitchen sinks, where they heat water fast and deliver hot water almost instantaneously. They can also be used for the whole house and multiple fixtures, but only for those with more power and a higher water flow rating.

As they are designed small, compact, and with a modern look, they can be installed almost anywhere, whether it is a kitchen or bathroom. These models are also great as an addition to an existing water heating system adding comfort, convenience, and reliability.

The largest and most powerful model is the RTEX-36 (sold on amazon.com), with several built-in heating elements that can produce up to 36 kW of power or modulate per request. The RTEX-36 model is considered as a whole-house water heater, supplying hot water to more than one fixture and saving homeowners over 30% of the water heating costs.

Rheem gas tankless water heaters

Gas tankless water heaters are energy-efficient units that are wall-mounted, saving space and energy while providing a continuous hot water supply, on-demand and fast. As they are designed with different capacities, they can be used from smaller to larger homes and deal with multiple applications easily, including combined water and space heating.

Rheem water heaters that are using tankless technology are precise, smart, and very reliable. They can last over 20 years. While electric models are for indoor installation only, gas-powered units are for both indoor and outdoor installation. The most efficient units one should consider are the condensing heaters.

As you can see in a review about Rheem tankless water heaters, you can get a model from one of the three groups. Condensing and Energy Star models such as RTGH-RH11DVLN (sold on amazon.com and Home Depot) is one of the best to install, mostly due to the built-in recirculation system, stainless steel components, excellent water flow, and ultra-high energy efficiency of 0.96. This is what ensures almost instantaneous hot water delivery, fast and with minimal energy and water waste.

Rheem heat pumps

Rheem hot water heaters using heat pump technology and electric heating elements are known as hybrid water heaters or heat pumps. The hybrid technology allows Rheem heat pumps to provide ultra-high energy efficiency, which is up to four times higher than what conventional electric type could offer. They are also more sophisticated, offering several heating modes, touch screen control, Wi-Fi connection, and diagnostics system.

The hybrid heaters are the only electric models from Rheem that are Energy Star approved, providing additional savings through the tax credits and utility rebates.

Rheem offers four sizes of heat pumps, ranging from 40 to 80 gallons, including the popular 50-gal tanks. What makes them different from the standard type of electric water heaters is the ultra-high-energy factor - over three times higher than the efficiency on the standard type, much higher first-hour rating, and ability to heat water in several operation modes.

Where to buy Rheem

About Rheem

The Rheem manufacturer is one of the most popular North American companies for residential and commercial water heating. The company is the industry leader in the HVAC industry that carries various types and models, including three popular brands; Marathon, Ruud, and Richmond.

Rheem has a long history of making water heaters. The company is designing and building HVAC devices since the 1920s. Today, Rheem is a fully owned subsidiary of Paloma Industries from Japan, the world's largest manufacturer of gas devices.

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