Rheem Water Heaters

In January 2020 I had a licensed plumber from a reputable local company install a RHEEM 50 gallon electric hot water heater. This was to replace the existing heater (different brand) which was leaking all over the floor in my mechanical room. Everything has been great UNTIL 6-5-23 when the RHEEM began leaking not only from the bottom, but from several places on the top as well. I immediately turned off the water valve and grabbed several towels to mop up the water. The plumbing company has been notified but I do not have an appointment as of today.

On May 1st, 2023 I chose a Platinum Rheem 50G hot water heater from South Asheville Home Depot to put on my Home Depot Card. I had Rheem Authorized dealer install from Four Seasons Plumbing Brain Zook. The next morning May 2nd, 2023 an alarm went off 7am stated service needed. There was also water pooling at the top of unit. The same plumber came out from Four Seasons Plumbing and inspected to be sure it was not his work. We took pictures and documented and he showed me the cold water nipple threading was forced in the top of hot water heater during the manufacturing process. I sent all documentation and pics to Rheem the same day.

I purchased a Rheem Performance Plus 40-gal 9 YEAR gas water heater in September, 2017. In March, 2023, 5 years and 7 months after purchase and installation, it began not working. By a week into April, it quit, FAR LESS than the 9 years stated. I called a plumber recommended on the Rheem website, he could not come out for 4 days. In the meantime, my tenants has NO water because the valve that would have shut off the water to the water heater was frozen and so the water had to be turned off completely (because it was leaking badly at that point).

I had a new Rheem water heater Installed in Feb. 2022. On 4/15/23 I was without hot water. I contacted my plumber who installed it and he said there were some recall issues and he would check with his supplier. He then got back to me and said because of the recall issue Rheem would need to send out their contracted plumber. Their plumber came out 5 days later and did not replace any parts but re ignited it and said it was ok. It was ok for 48 hours and then out again and would not Re ignite. I contacted my plumber and he said it needed a new ignition mechanism. I contacted the plumber that Rheem apparently sent and he said “they don’t handle warranty contract issues on the weekend”. I called my plumber again and he felt bad for me and got the part and came and installed it without charge to me.

Had to replace our old water heater. Plumber told us that Rheem was the best so we purchased. Gas control valve failed after 2 months. Plumber told us to call Rheem. Look up Rheem online and they tell us to call the plumber. Plumber gave us their number. They asked if I wanted to do standard shipping or pay for overnight. Stupid question, yeah, I'd like to go 5 days without hot water genius. Paid for the overnight only to find out that I won't get it until Monday. Granted, it was on a Friday, but the rep on the phone told me it would be here Saturday. After reading online reviews I now regret this purchase as it seems this is a known problem with Rheem water heaters. I'll be replacing this garbage and firing this plumber for recommending Rheem.

Products are garbage. Support staff is a nightmare of misdirection and **. Incredibly disappointing. They put faulty controls into thousands of gas heaters. They snuff out spontaneously. It’s a total rip-off.

After about a year on the job, my tankless water heater sprang a leak and began to ruin the custom-made $5,000 closet I had built to house it. My plumber ordered a new pump and they said delivery time would be 2-4 days. Five minutes later, I asked my plumber to call them back and overnight the pump to us, but although only FIVE (5) minutes had passed, they explained that they couldn’t change the order and we would just have to wait for the part to arrive. The bureaucracy was so intransigent that once an order had been placed there was no going back. Why they don’t automatically overnight their parts, I will never know. Do they think hot water (their business) is a luxury, not a necessity? I have now been without hot water for six days and still no part. Inexcusable. My dishes are covered in an oily film from washing them in cold water. I bathe using pots of water from the stove. My clothes are washed in only cold water.

Installed a Rheem 50ga hot water heater in our custom-built home in September of 2020. Purchased thinking we were getting a top-of-the-line hot water heater and avoid unnecessary repairs for years to come. WRONG. Within 2yrs of normal use, we experienced failure of the gas control valve and the FVIR bulb in the tank. After 4 days w/o hot water and two trips from the technician, the tank was replaced. HOWEVER, you are stuck with a $400-500 bill for labor and service call. The customer service at Rheem wasn't helpful, other than to say the gas control valve is an issue they are aware of (know issue). They won't help with the labor past 1 year. WE WILL NOT PURCHASE FROM THIS COMPANY AGAIN. Find another option with domestically produced product. Rheem manufactures in Mexico. BUYER BEWARE.

I have been living without hot water for 8 days now. I purchased Rheem water heater two years ago. The pilot light went out. Technician came out to relight and it worked for a few hours. Second trip they cleaned up the wires. Worked for a few hours. Calls to Rheem parts department. They sent out an new element. It was to be delivered overnight but took two more days. Technician replaced element and water heater worked for a few more hours. Technician called Rheem again. Now they are sending out a new control box to come in one or two days.

Honestly, this whole experience dealing with their customer service reps trying to find somewhere to exchange my hot water heater was an absolute nightmare. The numerous reps I spoke with had no idea how to properly find the information needed and instead would give me a new number and a new company to call and deal with. A simple question as "Where is the closest place to me I can swap this hot water heater" turned into "We can only see that this tank came from a distributor, call them to find out" and 5 different numbers later I got someone who gave me businesses that don't honor the replacement.