Making the right decision when purchasing any home improvement appliance is tough, especially when you’ve got to watch your budget. However, there are certain benefits when it comes to purchasing a water heater from a professionally licensed vendor versus going with a unit right from a big box store or online, especially for homeowners looking to cut on maintenance and repair costs. From higher build quality to wider availability of parts, professional-grade water heaters justify the cost.

Quality Matters

While big box store water heaters will certainly do the job, it’s important to know that the build quality between a big box store water heater and a professionally made and sold water heater can differ. Let’s look at the heating elements of each box as an example. Most box store heaters primarily use aluminum in their construction, which is prone to corrosion—this means more pricey repairs down the road. On the other hand, a pro-grade water heater relies on copper tubing and anodes, which are significantly stronger and more resistant to corrosion.

Drain valves are another point of difference. While most professional water heaters feature low-restriction brass drain valves, box store varieties typically come equipped with plastic drain valve that are easy to damage. Because of this, they’re often replaced—if parts are available, more on that later—which can become a consistent financial issue for homeowners.

Less Maintenance and Better Warranty

While the upfront cost of a professional water heater may be greater than a box store version, you’ll be spending way less down the road on maintenance and repair costs due to the points we just mentioned—better build quality and better efficiency. Better yet, if you do have issues with your pro-grade water heater, there’s a much higher chance that the parts needed for its repairs will be available and easily accessible under warranty. Box store models are often built using “performance” grade parts that need to be ordered through the manufacturer since most stores don’t carry them. This can make repairs take longer, and cost more.

Of course, it’s a large monetary investment to make. So, while newly built homes will likely not need their plumbing retrofitted anytime soon, older homes may warrant the cost of the endeavor if you know that the plumbing is original to the home. It’s also a great time to update or upgrade your current appliance with new tech—which will continue to minimize your carbon footprint and monthly bills.

Warranty can also be a deal-breaking factor when it comes to non-professional water heaters. Oftentimes, a box store water heater will have a very limited warranty and you’ll have to work with the manufacturer of the product, not the store itself, if you ever need to replace the unit. Conversely, professional water heaters often come equipped with six-year warranty plans and any work needed will be done directly by the company who sold you the unit.

Ultimately, buying your water heater from the pros will simply make your life easier in the long run. Not only can you get reliable information from the dealers—who are professionals in the trade—but you can get much easier access to repairs and maintenance, which you’ll likely need less than if you went with a box store unit.

535 Plumbing – Your Water Heater Experts

If you live on Oahu and are in need of a new water heater or water heater repairs, choose 535 Plumbing for the job! Our team of professional Oahu plumbers are highly skilled and our excellent customer support representatives will work with you to schedule your appointments at a time you most convenient. Learn more and schedule an appointment by calling (808) 300-0535, or Visit Our Contact Us Page. Mahalo!