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Kenmore energy-star product manual
Manufactured by American Water Heater Co/ owned by AO Smith Co. |
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Quick review
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Kenmore
energy-star water heater/ Made by American water heater
Kenmore
warranty is usually printed clearly in the manual, and in the year
2012, the Kenmore warranty exceeds typical residential warranties
offered by other vendors. The energy-star 40
and 50 gallon
flue-damper water heaters with EF .67 cost $271 per year to operate and
saves about $28 per year over ordinary EF .60 non-dampered water
heater.
Price
about $700 for 50 gallon tank, $525 for 40 gallon tank. Payback 2-8
years compared with less
efficient non-dampered series make this a good offer. Payback
assumes 120volt electric outlet is available. The
damper and electronics require electrical outlet that should be
dedicated and should be protected from electrical surge that can knock
out water
heater controls. This water heater is repairable following FVIR event,
saving money over water heaters that must be replaced.. Plastic drain
valve and air intake on bottom of heater are workmanlike. There is no
specific service manual posted for water heater. Product manual has
good instructions for maintaining and repairing water heater. Warranty
is 6 years
tank and parts for single-family residential installation. |
Warranty
Year 2012
Warranties can change, read product manual for warranty, installation
and maintenance. |
Warranty
6 years when installed in single-family residential home: Kenmore 6 year warranty
Page 6 Kenmore energy-star product manual
6 years tank, 6 years parts. Tank warranty covers leaking tank. Part
warranty is for parts that fail due to defective workmanship, and part
warranty does not cover failures due to lack of maintenance and
improper installation.
Warranty 1 year full replacement with labor for water heater tank that
develops leak. No other water heater vendor clearly states this in
their warranty.
Other
water heater manufactures and vendors, the warranty is not as clear,
especially Rheem/GE water heaters which have pro-rated warranty.
Be mindful, if you buy the Rheem/GE extended warranty, that warranty is
pro-rated, and requires professional installation of product. Sears
also sells extended warranty, and it might also require professional
installation of product. Check local store.
Kenmore
warranty is not void if homeowner installs product BUT Kenmore warranty
applies to original owner, single-family, residential installation when
'installed and maintained according to printed instructions in product
manual.' Read the manual, and also review the installation tips shown
on this webpage.
Kenmore warranty is 2 years for commercial application such as
apartment or
business.
1-800-469-4663 |
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Customer reviews
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Kenmore
is only seller of water heaters that displays customer reviews
Largely customer reviews seem negative. Here's my opinion why.
1)
Rheem/GE/ Home Depot don't allow customer comments. Lowes does not
allow customer comments. Lowes sells exact same American water heater
products just like Sears.
But somehow other box store products seem more reliable than Sears.
Truth is, other vendors do NOT sell more reliable water heaters because
I check for returns at local Home box stores and find returned water
heaters frequently. And like Sears, the returns are a very small
percentage.
2)
Homeowner can install Kenmore water heater without voiding
warranty, assuming correct installation. New gas
water heaters are different today because they require plenty of clean
air, and should not be installed in dusty environment or exposed to
household chemicals. Read the product manual, and read installation
tips below, so you
are successful. How to install gas water heater |
American/ Kenmore
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Energy
Factor: combined thermal efficiency and standby
efficiency of water heater in new condition
'Glass-lined' enamel coating inside steel tank, combined with anode rod
protect tank from rusting, same as all steel water heaters.
EF energy factor .67, Expected annual cost to operate $272 will save
$28 each year over typical gas water heater with EF .60
Flue damper located on top of unit. No pilot light. Water heater plugs
into outlet.
Recovery:
How many gallons can be heated in 1 hour
1/2" Gas line
Recovery 40.9 gal per hour is typical of ordinary gas water heater.
40,000 BTU indicates burner size and fuel consumption. Higher BTU
heaters use more fuel and heat water faster, but generally are
less efficient since more wasted heat goes up the vent stack.
First
Hour: How much hot is available in 1 hour
40 gallon water heater model has First Hour delivery 67 is good for
home with 1-3 people.
50 gallon water heater model has First Hour delivery 81 is good for
home with 4-5 people
80 gallon first hour delivery is general rule of thumb for home with
Whirlpool bath or oversized bath
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AO Smith version
Larger image |
Kenmore
is made by American water heater company, owned by AO Smith company
Whirlpool 333595 and 333594 Energy Efficient sold at Lowes is same
product as Kenmore
Product manual
American
Residential gas water heater model FDG62/ is same as Kenmore
energy-star
American FDG62 product manual
AO
Smith Flue Damper
Series water heater GCF40 and GCF50/ almost identical to
Kenmore energy-star flue damper
Difference: AO Smith has brass drain, air intake located on side,
but models change rapidly and there may be no
difference when actual Kenmore water heater is purchased.
AO Smith Product manual
AO Smith Spec sheet
AO Smith Estimated annual cost
GCF40 and GCF50
EF .67, annual cost to operate
$272
1/2" Gas line
Recovery 42 gal per hour
40,000 BTU
40 gallon First Hour 67
50 gallon first hour 81
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Whirlpool tub requires 80 gallon first hour rating |
What
size water heater?
40 gallon tank for
residential homes up to 3 people
50 gallon tank for
residential homes with 4-5 people
50 gallon tank if home has oversized bathtub
Minimum 40 gallon for resale of home.
First hour is how much hot water is available from fully heated water
heater before water turns cold.
Homes
with more than 5 people, then Kenmore energy-star is small
unless people conserve hot water and schedule hot water use. Increase
thermostat setting will increase first hour delivery.
Water
temperature is factory-set to 120 degrees.
Increase temperature if hot water runs out too soon |
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Flue-damper series water
heater plugs into 120V outlet to power gas ignition
sequence and damper. Best to have a dedicated circuit with
nothing
else on the line, including fluorescent lights. Check
outlet with circuit analyzer to ensure
proper
polarity of outlet. Water heater must be grounded or gas control will
not
operate.
Important: Do not use extension cord. Unit comes with 10 foot cord.
Electrical connection shows page 27 manual
Power
surge can knock
out gas
control when water heater plugs into outlet. Ordinary
power-outage can cause surge when power is restored. Protect water
heater
with surge protection. Example surge protector at
Amazon.
How to wire whole-house surge protector
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Honeywell
gas control valve has error codes Error codes page 26 & 40-41
Typical service manual for water heater with
Honeywell gas control valve
How to light Honeywell gas control valve
Diagnostic error codes are handy for homeowner and plumber when
repairing water heater.
Most
water heaters today are shifting to new electronic gas controls.
Advantage is error code troubleshoot, and more control options when
designing water heater including higher EF energy factors. For example,
the gas control can more accurately measure water temperature, and
better control combustion sequence.
Honeywell is major manufacturer of gas
controls found on heat-air systems. Today's heat-air systems have
reliable electronic gas controls.
Disadvantage of electronic control is that
water heater should be protected from surge. Surge will knock out
electronic gas controls. Surge at Amazon
Whole-house
surge protection is recommended for homes because so many
appliances, like microwave oven, clothes dryer, washing machine, and
heat-air systems have electronic controls that are not protected from
surge. Whole house surge at Amazon
How to wire whole-house surge protector |
Kenmore gas control made by Honeywell
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