Bradford White

In 2015 we needed a new water heater. Our plumber recommended a Bradford White water heater which we had installed. Since then we have had to have the dip tube, gas burner and gas valve assembly replaced twice because we don't get hot water (it is currently March, 2019). All of this is covered under their warranty but they only supply the parts - we have to pay for our plumber to make a service call and fix the damn thing plus a $50 "warranty administration fee" that Bradford White charges on warranty claims. Don't do business with companies like this!

After only 3 1/2 years in a newly built home, the heating elements had to be replaced. The cost of the elements were covered under the warranty. However, the $225 in labor was not covered and we had to pay for it ourselves. I called the warranty dept and they could not reimburse for labor. They advised me to call the Corp. office, which I did and left a message asking for reimbursement. I have not heard back from anyone at Bradford White HQ's. Bradford White does a great job marketing their product, but they appear not to live up to the hype as being the "best in the business" and all the other garbage they present themselves as being. All that I am asking for is some kind of reimbursement for the labor cost. I could have purchased a much better brand new heater for a bit more money. I'm not one to complain about things, but this I felt strongly enough about to do so. Stand behind your products Bradford White!

Our trusted installers, Snell & Son Heating and Air Conditioning, said this is the only brand they install and recommended it. It never quite worked right providing warm (not hot water) after 5 minutes of showering. The valve broke and cost us $689 to replace, 6 months after the warranty expired. Including labor, the charge was going to be $915. The new valve WV8840A1001 only has a 1-year warranty. We made a mistake installing this heater and increased that mistake by trying to fix it.

Still costs me about 300 bucks, I think Bradford White should pay for this too. Because they brag about being the best well let me tell you something, from my experience they are not. I bought this so I would not have to buy another one for years, little did I know it would be less than 2 years. The part that sucks the most it cost me over 1200 dollars the first time and another 300 to get replaced. This is just wrong!!!

We purchased a home in 2018 that had a 40 gallon Bradford White Hydrojet heater. Installation was done in 2015. The heater is leaking and needs to be replaced. As others have noted, the heater has a 6 year warranty that does not include labor costs. Based on other reviewers' experience with multiple failures, we have decided to replace the unit with a different make. After you pay for labor twice within a few years, you are close to the cost of installing a much more dependable brand. We strongly advise avoiding Bradford White water heaters.

In a period of 5 years I had had two water heaters fail. Very low quality and poor customer service. I was made to feel like I should be grateful that lasted that long and their ridiculous warranty covers nothing. Avoid this brand.

We had two Bradford White water heaters that one after 1 1/2 years and one after 3 years, produced dark rusty water. They were not leaking yet. Our plumber went to Ferguson plumbing with no results to even have the factory representative call him. My husband called Bradford White home office. He got the runaround. Don't believe their 6 year Warranty. We purchased two new water heaters brand name RUUD. These have a 12 year warranty.

Don't purchase a Bradford White! Initially I was thinking buy American. What a mistake! Our 50 gal. BW with a 10 year warranty self destructed just short of four years with a catastrophic failure! The water tank cracked. Hot water began spraying out of the pressure relief valve connection then pouring out of the base. My past experience has been that water heaters begin with a drip under the tank indicating it's time for replacement. Our Bradford White just let go creating an instant flood. With 6 years of existing warranty remaining I found the customer service dept to be useless especially when you need a new hot water heater immediately. If you are considering a Bradford White my recommendation is STAY CLEAR of this brand.

We called about fixing our boiler since it was leaking, however we were told that it cannot be repaired (even though it's just a leak) and we would need to buy a whole new system. Even going to check was going to have an expensive fee. Highly do NOT recommend this product or the business.

I had one of their water heater installed March/2018 and it was defective from the time it came in my door. Over several months my plumber came out numerous time, plus a few other tradesmen. The water always checked ok when they were here, Afterward it would get cold after one shower. I purchased an infrared water tester, then tested the water different times during the day for a few weeks. Sent this to my plumber and the company's CEO, to avail, they still did not believe me. Now I have to keep the temperature scalding hot in order to have enough hot water for all my needs.

Cost of the 50 gallon gas water heater 5??? Function for 4 years 5??? The day I needed parts to fix my water heater absolutely a crap show! I do not recommend their customer warranty department whatsoever, if you are buying a tank water heater buy a Rheem or Ruud. This is a joke. You have to go through a supplier for replacement parts, really ridiculous. I gave them my model and serial number and explained to them that I have a new style pilot light assembly and still sent me the copper wire style assembly. Out of hot water for over a week. Never will buy anything with this brand name! If you are buying a Tankless buy a Rinnai.

Hot water tank failed at 1 year and 8 months. It cost $425 to replace it under warranty. Water started coming out of top side seam. The plumber stated that he had no idea why this would happen. The plumber also stated that this was a top brand; it doesn't look like it according to this site.

Replaced water heater in August 2017 with Bradford White Hydrojet Total performance system and when I went to take a bath this morning before work, I stepped into an ice cold bath. Not only that there is rust around one of the valves on the top of the tank... AND almost had a fire. I noticed that for some reason, around the cover, I noticed some black, so I had a friend open it up. Some parts inside it melted. THAT is so not good. I'm a single person, take 1 bath a day and dishes every 2 days. I don't understand how a water heater didn't last very long!!!

Our plumber installed a Bradford White Water Heater in our condo in 2013. It has to be replaced today (5 years). Labor is not covered, there is a $125 surcharge because of a federal standard that made newer water heaters more efficient but cost more, so I have to pick up the difference. I called BW and they basically told me too bad, I have no choice. The average water heater lasts 12.5 years, BW certainly lowers that average. Choose anything else.

Our first water heater (not sure of brand) lasted 16 years. It was replaced by a Bradford White in 2010. 2 years later it leaked from the bottom and was replaced by the plumber that installed it in 2012. Even though it was covered under warranty the plumber charged us $400 to put it in. Now, 6 1/2 years later, it just failed again, leaking water out the bottom. Used a different plumber this time and went with a Rheem. I would not ever put another Bradford White in my home. 24 year old home on its 4th water heater!

Installed new, failed after 2 1/2 years. Do not use if you have a salt water softener or high calcium chloride in your water, BW would not honor the warranty. Not one penny. No help at all. The tank was almost solid inside and extremely heavy when it was removed. Our contractor will no longer use their products. Expensive mistake. Horrible people to deal with.

First unit 50 gal power vent installed in 4/11 by local HVAC plumbing contractor. First unit leaked. Unit replaced under warranty 2/15. Replacement unit massive leak and failure 9/18. 2 units both died within 4 years of service. I changed the anode in second unit two years in service even though inspection showed no material degradation. Drained tank as part of annual maintenance. Bottom line, not worth the $1000 price tag and the warranty in insufficient.

My heater was installed right around 10 years. Water sometimes hot, sometimes cold for a while. Now it's leaking at the top. Called the rep, she asked for warranty card. But I only have receipt and installed label for 10 warranty info that prove I paid for it. She said that's the policy, could not do anything.

I wish everyone would do their homework and read these reviews before buying a Bradford White (BW). These things have been junk since AT LEAST 1982. My first new house in 1982 came with a 6 yr BW which failed after 6 yrs and a couple of months. My second new house in 1997 came with a 6 yr BW which failed just before 6 yrs use. Both were replaced with Rheem water heaters - great product and great warranty that includes labor in the early years. The BW replacement for my 1997 house was a 9 yr Rheem that lasted me 15 years and was still working when I chose to replace it in 2017 due to signs of age. I bought a 12 yr Rheem that covers parts & tank for 12 years, and all labor for the first 3 years, $558 (now $618 a year later).

We had our home built in 2010 and the builder installed a BW water heater. The 1st one lasted five years, then started to leak. Since then we've gone thru three water heaters in three years all with the same problem, they leak and the pilot light won’t stay lit. Customer service will warranty the parts if you can get them but not the labor cost. So you are still out of pocket several hundred dollars to fix their faulty product. I would never recommend anyone to buy a BW product of any kind. Very poor quality and customer service.

We have the 40 gallon Gas Water heater model M44 and it has operated flawlessly for 9 years. Now 3 years past the manufacturer's stated warranty of 6 years and we are hearing popping when the heater is on, so we know the time is near to a tank failure. I was surprised to learn that the warranty starts at time of manufacture and not from time of purchase. I find this not to be in my best interest and not a good consumer policy. For that reason alone I will not purchase another B-W water heater.

Warranty is for 6 years but if you buy it from a reseller it is still from the date manufactured. We purchased through the plumber doing the work. We were under the 6 years when we bought the unit but not under the 6 years when it was manufactured. Therefore, no warranty coverage for us. Also our previous water heater lasted over 16 years. Not impressed with a 6 year lifecycle. In our case the control valve was leaking. Fortunately caught early enough. Will get the water sensors that we can place underneath in case of a future leak.

Late Sunday evening I notice that we did not have hot water. We check the hot water tank to find our basement was wet and water continued from the hot water tank. I looked on Google for 24 hours and found PK Wadsworth. I called and was told that the Tech would return my call. The Tech, Roberto, returned the call within ten minutes. I discuss my busted hot water heater and we decided that he would come out on Monday morning 8:30 am. Roberto was prompt and pleasant. He discussed the issue we agree replaced the hot water tank. Roberto left and returned with a new hot water tank and Brad. Together they promptly removed the tank. Roberto placed a tarp on the floor and stairs so that this area would not get wet or damaged. We were very pleased with the job and the excellent customer service demonstrated Brad.

Broke valve after three years. Warranty covered the part but I was still out $340 of labor. I contacted to company for reimbursement for the labor since it had been used for barely four years and they basically said, "Tough luck, we have a policy." Go with another reliable brand that actually backs up their product.

We own a mobile home park and rent homes. One of the homes had a Bradford White 30 gallon water heater. Our plumbing company, Horizon Enterprises, determined that the water heater was defective. Bradford White diagnosed the problem over the phone and slowly sent some parts. These did not repair the water heater. When the plumbing company reported this Bradford White refused to further honor their warranty. We will never purchase their product again.

The customer service line was A JOKE, at least they did answer the phone. They put my problem back on me, then their local representative supplier, put it back on the installer (my plumber), then they gave him a hassle over ordering the WARRANTY PART. The worse part of their VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE? (A) They don't let local distributors inventory critical parts, and (B) they CHARGED $60.00 EXTRA for express delivery (which I feel like they should pay, since they save money not to stock locally), or I could go a week without hot water! This was my first and last time to buy a Bradford White product.

I purchased a 40 gallon Bradford White water heater and it was defective. Within a week, had a replacement installed and within a year it too needed to be replaced. Bradford White “customer service” told me that unless I replaced with another Bradford White water heater, there was no warranty. Terrible! My plumber called them scams. Is there any recourse with Consumer Affairs? At this point I don’t want to incur attorney costs so pursuing small claims for money back.

November 30, 2016 we replaced our 15 year old water heater with a Bradford White. April of 2018 (1 year and 5 months) later we were losing hot water. We called the company that installed the heater and a service employee attended our problem. WE HAD PURCHASED A DEFECTIVE HOT WATER TANK!!! It had to be replaced. The company charged us $289 to service this problem. We will never purchase a Bradford White Water Tank again. We also do not get the full 6 year warranty on this new tank, only 4 1/2 years left on the defective tank. We will never purchase a Bradford White again or do business with the company that represented them.

I paid top dollar for the best 50 gal. water heater they sold. 1 year later and the pilot light goes out everyday. I called about the 6 year warranty. What a joke. They will replaced the part for free BUT I have to hire an Authorized plumber that charges $300.00 per hour! Wish I had checked the reviews first. I will never buy their products ever again. Should have gone to Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Our Bradford White model M25056DS-1ncwn is 5.5 years old when the lower element went out. We confirmed that it was under warranty with BW but they would not work with us. We had to work through our whole seller who did not want to file a claim since it turned out that BW would only pay for the heating element part ($8.50). It turns out that BW would not pay for the labor cost of $95. I have had built several houses the last 30 years and have never had a unit go out so early in its lifecycle. I would not have another BW and I would not recommend to anyone considering to buy a BW when their unit was defective so early in its life leaving me to believe it is of poor quality.