Rheem Water Heaters: Review and Buying Tips

How to select the best model from Rheem water heaters and heat pumps for all your home water heating needs.

Either looking for the tank-type unit for the large or small volume heating or on-demand tankless solution, take advantage of the following buying tips and suggestions written just for you.

With the help of reviews of the popular series, including the best models, top features, and specs, you will make the right decision for the maximized savings and comfort.

According to J.D. Power and Associates - Rheem water heaters ranks second highest, taking into account the subcontractor voice, where warranty and repair service are among the main factors in customer satisfaction.

Rheem water heaters: Things to look for

Features

• Guardian System to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors.
• Flexible venting system (power, power-direct vent, or atmospheric with the powered damper).
• The environment-friendly gas burner as it meets the low gas emission standards.
• Stainless steel elements for durability.
• Hot surface ignitor for reliable work.
• Dual anode rod system.
• A blower with a reduced noise level.
• Remote control or digital temperature controller.
• Condensing technology for superior efficiency.
• EcoNet capability.
• Advanced electronics with the self-diagnostic program.
• Professional-grade components.
• Longer warranty.

Rheem water heaters company carries various types and models for almost any home size, from the point-of-use to whole-house water heating.

The tank-type is the most popular type, and Rheem offers a wide selection of gas, electric, and solar-powered models, including heat pumps, coming with capacities from 20 to 80 gallons where the best ones are high efficient and high recovery, utilizing advanced features and long warranty.

Tankless water heaters are becoming popular due to their small size, on-demand heating, and endless hot water supply. They are also known for state-of-the-art and "green" technology, reduced gas emission, and significant energy savings - making them a good buy. 

Rheem gas water heaters

Best sellers

• Rheem Power Vent 50-gal
  
• Rheem Atmospheric 40-gal
• Rheem XR90

Rheem PROG50
(photo: amazon)

Rheem gas water heaters come from the Professional, Performance (available in the US only), and Specialty line.

The Professional Prestige line is the most advanced group that includes high efficient tankless water heaters and Energy Star tank-type units utilizing professional grade elements and exclusive features, making them the best to choose from. A great example is a 50-gal tank-type model RHE50, a condensing unit that comes with an energy factor of 0.82 and a first-hour rating of 98 GPH, making it a good buy.

The Performance line covers only the water heaters with the storage water tank and includes all the venting options, while the Specialty line consists of the EcoSense tankless and condensing tank-type units.

A detailed review of the gas water heaters designed as the low NOx emission, high demand, high recovery, or Energy Star can be found here.

Gas tankless series

Best sellers

Rheem RTGH-95DVLN
(photo: amazon)

Rheem tankless water heaters are designed with condensing, and non-condensing technology and are available as the Professional Prestige and Specialty EcoSense series.

Rheem condensing models are ultra-efficient, state-of-the-art water heaters recommended for those looking for more. Non-condensing models are mid-efficient and economy models that also offer on-demand heating, continuous supply, small size, environment-friendly design, with the reduced energy efficiency and lower price.

A detailed review of the tankless models is here, but if looking for the recommendation - buy a Rheem tankless water heater with the condensing technology, such as the Energy Star approved Rheem RTGH-95 DV that comes with the high efficiency of 94%, maximum performance, great comfort and savings of over 40%.

Rheem electric water heaters

Rheem Marathon
(photo: amazon)

Rheem electric water heaters are also coming from the Professional, Performance, and Specialty line.

The smallest units, such as those with the storage tank of 2.5 gallons, are known as the point-of-use models, while the whole-house units, as its name indicates, can provide large amounts of hot water for the whole house.

Rheem is well-known for building quality water heaters, where the Marathon, from a Specialty line, is among the best to buy due to the high-quality elements, corrosion-resistant and leak-free water tank, and lifetime warranty.

Electric tankless series

Best sellers

• Rheem RTEX-13
• Rheem RTEX-18
• Rheem RTEX-27

Rheem RTEX-18
(photo: amazon)

As the gas group, Rheem tankless electric, also provides hot water on demand in consistent and continuous supply, using the RTEX series of tankless water heaters.

The electric tankless water heaters from the RTEX group are small and compact, providing on-demand water heating and easy installation under the kitchen, bathroom sink, or wall.

One of the popular models to buy is the RTEX-27 due to its ability to provide enough hot water to small and mid-size homes while still coming with great features and affordable prices.

Hybrid models

Rheem heat pump
(photo: amazon)

Rheem hybrid water heaters or heat pumps offer the most efficient electric water heating solution among electric and many gas-type models.

This Energy Star unit comes from the Prestige series with up to 3.70 energy efficiency, bringing excellent savings to homeowners. According to the manufacturer, the purchase price is high, but lifetime savings can go up to $5000, with less than 2-year payback time.

From the premium grade anode to the advanced electronics and variety of operating modes offering great comfort and savings, the Rheem hybrid is an electric water heater that can be considered a long time investment.

About Rheem

Rheem was established back in 1920, and hot water heaters were one of the first products.

The company bought the Ruud Manufacturing Company, which built the first automatic, storage tank-type gas water heater.

Today, Rheem water heaters are well-known brands, and the company is a popular North American manufacturer in providing complete heating solutions.

Rheem is now an entirely owned subsidiary of Paloma Industries, the world's largest producer of gas appliances, situated in Japan.