When purchasing a water heater, there are many factors you should consider over and above the selling price of the water heater itself, such as:

Service & parts replacement costs
Over its "expectant life" (approximately 13 years), a water heater typically requires service an average of 3 times. Service and repairs can occur at the most inopportune time and can be costly, as you can see by the repair chart examples below.



Warranty coverage
Although some manufacturers may warranty some parts, read the fine print under warranty coverage. Find out about what's not covered under the warranty, such as who pays for labour, and any other conditions associated with a warranty claim. If you've purchased from a big box store and your unit breaks down, who do you call?

Length of time you will be in your current home
If you are planning to sell your home, you may not recover the value of the water heater in the sale price to the new owner.

Installation, delivery charges and sales tax
Advertised prices may not include all these extra charges. Be sure to get a full quote.