Blog

Aug 18, 2023

Rheem Water Heater Warranty: Coverage, Cost and Duration (2023)

Bradford Cuthrell is a meticulous researcher and writer specializing in pet and home finance topics. He's surveyed thousands of pet owners and homeowners, listened to hundreds of customer service

Bradford Cuthrell is a meticulous researcher and writer specializing in pet and home finance topics. He's surveyed thousands of pet owners and homeowners, listened to hundreds of customer service calls from various home service companies and spoken with dozens of industry experts to understand homeowners' common pain points and needs.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York's Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

Consumers love Rheem products for water heating because of the brand’s association with quality and affordability. Its original product line started with water heaters, which consistently receive high ratings as an exceptional-value option. With a number of models to choose from under both the Rheem and Ruud brand names, the company has a water heater for every budget.

Warranties bring extra value to a consumer because of the savings they offer if a malfunction or defect causes a service interruption. Understanding the warranty for a particular model helps you make an informed decision when purchasing a water heater. You can also extend coverage through the best third-party home warranties.

A warranty is a service agreement between a consumer and a manufacturer or a third party serving as a home warranty provider. A warranty acts as a guarantee from the manufacturer that its product will meet certain performance expectations. In this case, if the water heater doesn’t meet the spelled-out specifications, the manufacturer or warranty provider assumes responsibility for correcting the problem.

Rheem has a long-standing reputation in the industry as having some of the most generous and long-lasting warranties. A homeowner can easily register a water heater to gain warranty benefits included with the purchase and can also decide whether to buy extended warranty coverage.

For a buyer to take full advantage of Rheem’s warranty coverage, the buyer must register the product. This is an online process that involves entering purchase information, model number and serial number for the appliance.

A basic Rheem warranty provides protection against defects in workmanship and materials. The water tank, parts and labor for replacement or repair are a part of the warranty terms, though these have time periods of eligibility. Professional plumbers authorized by Rheem usually handle repairs and replacements covered under warranty.

Common issues addressed through Rheem warranties include:

Because Rheem sells several types and models of water heaters, service issues and malfunctions vary. Tank-type water heaters may experience different problems than hybrid or tankless models. Problems with consistent hot water in a tankless water heater involved different elements than a tank-type, which is why warranties are often specific to a model number.

Rheem makes water heaters powered by propane, gas, electrical, hybrid or heat pump units, indirect and solar energy units. Each has several configurations. The general warranty coverage is six years on parts, one year on labor and up to 15 years on a heat exchanger.

There are categories of warranties as well, based on the unit purchased.

Rheem established its ProtectionPlus program, which extends warranty service options. This offers an extra four years of protection. Models bearing an Energy Star logo often have an eight-year warranty.

Rheem and Ruud residential water heaters make coverage specifications clear on the certificate of limited warranty included with the purchase of a water heater.

A warranty doesn’t address every problem, and the warranty contract includes statements concerning the conditions or circumstances that aren’t eligible for coverage. Of extreme importance is the deadline for registering a warranty online. Rheem allows a buyer 60 days from the installation date to activate a warranty. This applies to both electric water and natural gas models. Failing to register the appliance within the timeframe could void the warranty benefits.

However, warranties are usually linked to the buyer and don’t transfer to another party. The name listed on the warranty registration is the sole recipient of warranty benefits, although there are exceptions. Sometimes you can upgrade to a transferable warranty for a fee.

Physical conditions not covered by warranty include damages from faulty installation or misuse of the water heater or installation by a non-licensed HVAC professional. The limited warranty certificate has a complete list of exclusions and limitations. Some of the lesser-known reasons for a denied warranty claim include:

While Rheem offers a generous warranty for its water heaters, you could void your warranty eligibility with faulty installation, poor maintenance or abusing operating requirements.

Since a standard warranty comes with the purchase of a water heater, the costs vary according to options for extending the contract. Upgrading to a ProtectionPlus warranty kit could cost between $150 and $250. But you sometimes can buy an extended warranty through a third-party dealing in water heaters and other home appliances.

There are several things that affect how much an extended warranty costs. Sourcing parts, location, additional labor coverage and breakdown risks for specific parts all are contributing factors. Other factors are:

If you want to buy a Rheem extended warranty called the Protection Plus Extended Warranty, you must contact a dealer. American International Group, Inc. supplies the warranty through Service Net and the warranty division. The cost of extending a warranty for a Rheem water heater depends on the provider, though it could cost as little as $60.

Purchasing a home warranty adds more home value for a homeowner because it increases the protection beyond the water heater. Rheem covers the water heater with limited additional scope. A home warranty makes it possible to include protection for a refrigerator, HVAC unit or other appliances. These warranties can also include labor costs beyond an initial year past the installation date.

Two quality home warranty providers supply extended appliance coverage: Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield.

Under this home coverage, you can find help for all major home appliances and systems. There are three plans available, with the systems and appliance guard options providing protection for the respective category. Liberty Home Guard’s Total Home Guard plan is the highest tier of services and has the most economical coverage because of its many applications. Water heater coverage includes mechanical components and parts for tanks up to 75 gallons.

American Home Shield has positive reviews and is a trusted name in home warranty coverage. It has several plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum. Water heaters are just one of the appliances covered under the home appliance package. The warranty addresses tanks, components and parts of conventional water heaters, circulating pumps, expansion tanks and malfunctions caused by normal wear and tear.

For quality protection for your water heater, you can choose from a Rheem extended service warranty or a third-party home warranty. Here is a quick comparison of your warranty options and their cost range.

With many home warranty programs, the ability to purchase tiered-level coverage impacts the elements and lengths of coverage, as well as the affordability of coverage. Homeowners can get a quote from these companies and find out the specifics of their water heater coverage. These warranties don’t require a homeowner to be the original owner of the appliance, creating a more comprehensive coverage option over a Rheem water heater warranty.

Without registering a water heater, the warranty options become void. A buyer has 60 days from the date of installation to register the unit.

Have the model and the serial number of your unit ready, and go to rheem.registermyunit.com. After entering the serial number, you will complete a form with your personal information. This will include purchase information, proof of installation, service location and contact information. Rheem has made the process quick and easy for product owners.

For specific inquiries related to your warranty, contact Rheem customer support. To find a local professional to fix your warranty component, use the online local support finder on the Rheem warranty website.

Rheem supplies a buyer with a generous warranty when purchasing a water heater, but parts and labor are an exclusion after one year of ownership. Extending the coverage through Protection Plus adds another four years to parts, the tank and components, and includes additional labor allowances. Purchasing a used water heater doesn’t come with an original Rheem warranty, though it’s possible to find coverage through a home warranty company.

The standard limited warranty in the Classic series of Rheem water heaters is one year on labor and six years limited on tank and parts. Protection Plus upgrades coverage to a 10-year tank warranty.

A Rheem warranty is a single-owner contract unless the buyer purchases a Protection Plus upgrade. For a fee, the warranty is transferable. There are also tiered warranty options associated with a particular category of water heater.

Warranties are valid when registered online within 60 days of installation. The product must meet installation terms as well or the warranty is void.

A Rheem natural gas 75-gallon water heater has an eight-year limited tank and parts warranty. It also has a one-year labor warranty.

Our team created a comprehensive rating system to rank providers based on objective factors. We researched each company by speaking with company representatives, reading sample contracts, and analyzing and comparing consumer reviews. We deepened our research by gaining homeowner insights through surveys and focus groups.After collecting data, we scored each provider based on what matters most to homeowners: plan options, cost, trustworthiness, customer service, state availability, additional benefits and coverage specifics.Here’s the breakdown of how we scored each home warranty company on our list: