Water Heater Warranty: What Homeowners Should Know
Understanding Your Water Heater Warranty
You depend on your water heater for showers, dishes, cooking, and more. Water heaters usually last between 8 to 12 years, but replacing a water heater is not cheap. Luckily, many warranties provide coverage on parts and labor to eliminate that cost. When you start experiencing issues with your water heater, you might still be covered by your warranty.
Water heaters, just like any other large purchase, are often accompanied by a repair or replacement warranty to make sure that your purchase is covered in the event that a problem occurs. There are often stipulations within the warranty information, such as the warranty only applying if the error is the fault of the manufacturer, not the user.
Oftentimes, the language behind warranties can be convoluted, confusing, and unclear as to what the warranty itself actually covers. Whenever you need help figuring out what exactly your warranty does or does not cover, get in contact with someone who has experience with warranties on systems just like yours.
HomeSense is here to help you navigate warranties that can be complicated so that you know if your water heater issues are covered. This way, you can make sure that you’re not stuck with a hefty bill at the end of the day.
Water Heater Warranties Simplified
When you purchase a new water heater, you must register your system’s serial number to be covered by the warranty. You typically have 30 days after installation to register it. If you inherited a hot water tank when you bought a new home, your water heater may not be registered properly by the previous owners.
Most brands of residential water heaters have six (6) year tank and a six (6) year parts warranty. This will vary with different models and manufacturers. The labor warranty from the manufacturer is one year. If the water heater is purchased and installed by HomeSense, we provide a two (2) year labor warranty from the date of installation. Once the labor warranty has expired, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for labor and the parts to be replaced.
Wherever the water heater was purchased, your water heater’s warranty will likely be honored there. If the water heater was purchased at a home center or hardware store, the part must be returned to the store where purchased for the part warranty to be honored. HomeSense can remove and install any parts for you, but you’ll need to get the replacement parts from the store.
“Old Design” Vs. “New Design” Water Tank Warranties
There are two different types of water tanks, and they have different warranty coverage. Several years ago, a law was passed requiring that every tank-type gas water heater produced after July 1, 2003, to incorporate a Flammable Vapors Ignition Resistance design. This prevents the gas burners from igniting flammable vapors from liquid spills near the water heater. There were many “Old Style” water heaters manufactured and installed after the deadline. Any gas water heater produced after that date is the “New Design.”
If you have an “Old Design” water heater with tank leaks, while still under warranty, you can upgrade to a “New Design” water heater. You’ll have to pay for the installation and an upgrade fee, but the water heater warranty will be extended for another six (6) years.
“New Design” water heaters come with a warranty of six (6) years from the date of installation. If a “new design” water heater starts leaking after four (4) years, then the replacement will be covered under the warranty. But now the warranty only covers from the date of the original installation, meaning the warranty remaining on the new water tank is only two (2) years now.
Not All Water Heater Brands Have the Same Warranty
At HomeSense, we work with you to install electrical or gas water heaters from a variety of manufacturers. But it is important to know that not all manufacturers have the same warranty. When shopping around for water heaters it is important to not only compare features of the water heaters but also compare Water Heater Warranty terms. You’ll want to pay for more water heater coverage on a newer storage tank so you will be covered whenever there is a problem.
If you’ve moved into a home with a water heater or tank with an expired warranty, you might want to consider extra protection with a home warranty so you won’t have to pay to replace a whole water tank out of pocket. This might seem like an added expense, but having that extra protection can save you money if your system stops working.
HomeSense Is Here to Answer Your Water Heater Questions
Whenever you’re in the market for a new plumbing system of any kind, make sure to pay attention to the warranty attached to the system. Warranties matter when you’re buying home systems. Make sure you’re covered if your system stops working.
If you want to learn more about your water heater warranty, or the warranty on any of your plumbing systems and appliances, HomeSense can help. All we need is the Manufacturer, Model, Serial Number, and Date Installed to check your warranty status. For any other water heater problems, such as if your water heater isn’t producing hot water, reach out to HomeSense for service.
