self-cleaning water heaters

I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

Other specs seem the same.

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?



(given that I'll also be paying to have them install it, which given
venting and access issues will at least double the cost, the extra $80
isn't a big deal, but I'm still curious about it)

--

(not sure if this link will work, comparing three models)
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/THDProductCompare?errorURL=ProductAttributeErrorView&langId=-1&storeId0051&catalogId0053&prodComp_000614634&prodComp_100614635&prodComp_200614632&N0000003+90048+527050+780

Thanks.

J.

JRStern wrote:
I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

Other specs seem the same.

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?



(given that I'll also be paying to have them install it, which given
venting and access issues will at least double the cost, the extra $80
isn't a big deal, but I'm still curious about it)

--

(not sure if this link will work, comparing three models)
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/THDProductCompare?errorURL=ProductAttributeErrorView&langId=-1&storeId0051&catalogId0053&prodComp_000614634&prodComp_100614635&prodComp_200614632&N0000003+90048+527050+780

Thanks.

J.


The self cleaning units, if I remember correctly, have a cold
water supply tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the
tank and is curved in such a way that it swirls the water
around which keeps the sediment stirred up so it goes out with
the hot water.

TDD

JRStern wrote:
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:34:52 -0600, The Daring Dufas
<email@anonym; wrote:

The self cleaning units, if I remember correctly, have a cold
water supply tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the
tank and is curved in such a way that it swirls the water
around which keeps the sediment stirred up so it goes out with
the hot water.

Heh, just what I wanted to know! High tech at it's best!

I presume it works somewhat, at least sounds like it can do no harm.

Thanks.

J.


You're welcome, I know a little bit about how stuff works.
*snicker*

http://www.reliancewaterheaters.com/service/better.html

There is some debate about whether or not the feature is
effective at reducing sediment.

TDD

JRStern <JRSemail@anonym; wrote in
news:email@anonym:

I see Home Depot has a line of GE/Rheem gas water heaters:

* 40 gallon, 6 year warranty, $488
* 38 gallon, 9 year warranty, self-cleaning, $498
* 40 gallon, 12 year warranty, self-cleaning, $578

Other specs seem the same.

My question is, what does this self-cleaning mean, and is it likely
that the extra bucks for the 12-year is a good investment?



(given that I'll also be paying to have them install it, which given
venting and access issues will at least double the cost, the extra $80
isn't a big deal, but I'm still curious about it)

--

(not sure if this link will work, comparing three models)
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/THDProductCompare?errorURL=ProductAttributeErrorView&langId=-1&storeId0051&catalogId0053&prodComp_000614634&prodComp_100614635&prodComp_200614632&N0000003+90048+527050+780

Thanks.

J.



And none of them qualify for a tax credit. Doing some .gov clicking I
learned that standard storage tanks pretty much don't qualify. Gas, Oil
and Propane Water Heaters need to have an Energy Factor >= 0.82 or a
thermal efficiency of at least 90%. The 3 referenced are in the .6
range.

And here's a list of a shitload (specific unit of measurement
back in VT) of storage water heaters. They're all in the .6 range.
Pretty handy for lots of comparisons besides EF too.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=gas_storage.display_products_pdf



From: http://preview.tinyurl.com/y954grz

1) Storage tank

Most storage tank water heaters can not qualify for the tax credit
because they can not meet the Energy Factor requirement of .82. However,
there are some commercial storage tank water heaters that can qualify
for the tax credit because they have a thermal efficiency of greater
than 90%. These models are larger than what is typically considered a
residential unit and may not have the standard safety features of
residential models.

<email@anonym; wrote in message
news:email@anonym...
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:56:59 -0600, The Daring Dufas
<email@anonym; wrote:


The self cleaning units, if I remember correctly, have a cold
water supply tube that goes all the way to the bottom of the
tank and is curved in such a way that it swirls the water
around which keeps the sediment stirred up so it goes out with
the hot water.

There is some debate about whether or not the feature is
effective at reducing sediment.


Yes, it works. Just checked mine after 10 years.
No sediment came out of the drain.

10 yrs? Who is the manufacturer, that's a pretty good life span. And, what
was the HW tank rated in # of yrs to begin with?
Thanks.

vertex now quaifies for the tax credit, 1500 bucks installed around
here

On Nov 8, 10:55FFDam, Jules <jules.richardsonn...@remove.this.gmail.c=
om>
wrote:
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:38:02 -0500, tnom wrote:
>>There is some debate about whether or not the feature is
>>effective at reducing sediment.

> Yes, FFDit works. Just checked mine after 10 years.
> No sediment came out of the drain.

That sounds like mine (not self-cleaning). Sediment was there, but no
sediment came out of the drain because the drain valve's water pathway
is too small and angular to allow the sediment to come out. :-)

(it seemed to be about 1/4" x 1/4" in places - so all it takes is for a
flake of scale larger than that to fall to the bottom of the tank, and
nothing will escape the drain valve except water - giving the impression
that there's no sediment in there)

some areas get no sediment, till the lining fails..........

You been checking it every six months or so, to see if
sediment gets started?

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

Yes, it works. Just checked mine after 10 years.
No sediment came out of the drain.

10 yrs? Who is the manufacturer, that's a pretty good life
span. And, what
was the HW tank rated in # of yrs to begin with?
Thanks.