WATER HEATERS

Choosing the Right Water Heater

When it’s time to replace your water heater, choosing the right model will ensure reliable hot water, energy efficiency, and a good fit for your household’s lifestyle and budget. We help you select the perfect water heater — and deliver and install it quickly. Here, we walk through the key factors you should consider, and questions to ask to pick what works best for your family.

Tank Water Heater Basics

Traditional tank water heaters are the most popular choice among homeowners.
A tank water heater keeps a large volume of hot water “on standby” at a pre-set temperature.
Typical residential sizes run 40-50 gallons, though models may range 20-80 gallons.
Because the water is stored and kept hot, there is standby heat loss and energy is consumed even when you’re not actively using hot water.
Lifespan: around 6–12 years for tank units.
Limitations: Once the stored hot water is used up, you may need to wait for reheating; bigger footprint; potential for leaks as the tank ages.

WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

When choosing a water heater, consider these questions:

How many people live in the home and what’s the typical hot water usage (showers, baths, laundry, dishwasher, multiple baths in a row)?
Do you frequently run out of hot water (especially during peak times)? If yes, a higher capacity tank may help.
What is your budget (both upfront and long-term operational cost)?
How long do you plan to stay in the home? If you expect to stay many years, a longer lifespan unit may make sense.
What’s the condition of your current water heater (age, leaks, rust, repair frequency)? If it’s near end of life, replacement may be wise rather than repair.
What are your space and installation constraints (venting, gas/electric supply, location, retrofit ease)?
Do you want the simplest and lowest cost upfront option? A quality tank unit may serve that need well.

KEY FACTS & CONSIDERATIONS

17%

Water heaters account for nearly 17% of a home’s energy use, making the correct choice important.

60%

About 60% of water heater replacements happen during emergencies (i.e., when the unit fails).

$285

An Energy Star-qualified heater can save up to ~$285 per year in energy costs (vs. non-qualified models) in many households.

WHEN TO REPLACE RATHER THAN REPAIR

If your water heater is showing signs like:

Hot water runs out frequently or too quickly.
Leaks or rust around the tank.
Age of the unit is near or past its expected lifespan.
Significant reduction in efficiency or increased energy bills.

Then replacing the unit may be the smarter choice.

Consider Warranty Protection

It’s important to understand what kind of warranty protection you’ll get with your new water heater. A strong warranty not only protects your investment, but also signals the manufacturer’s confidence in product quality. Across the industry, most manufacturers offer tanks with a 6-, 9-, or 12-year tank warranty depending on the model. The GE RealMax™ line of water heaters available through the Ace Hardware Water Heater installation program exceed industry standards by offering tanks with 8-, 10-, or 12-year tank warranties.

INSTALLATION & SERVICE MATTERS

Even the best water heater won’t perform if installed poorly. Choose a licensed professional who:

Reviews your plumbing, venting (for gas/propane units), and permits.
Matches the heater size and capacity to your household’s demand.
Helps you understand maintenance needs and warranties.
Offers prompt, reliable service (ideally same-day or fast turnaround).

Summary & Recommendation Checklist

Match capacity to your usage — Know how many taps/showers run and when.
Think about long-term cost — Upfront cost is important, but energy usage and lifespan matter too. One way to compare options is to calculate “cost per day” by dividing the total cost by the number of days the unit is warrantied for.
Check your installation context — Space, fuel type (gas/electric/propane), venting, retrofit issues.
Factor in your homeowner timeframe — If you plan to stay many years, invest-for-long-term may make sense.
Select a provider you trust — Good installation and service reduce headaches later.
Don’t delay replacement if failure is imminent — Hot-water emergencies are inconvenient and costly.

GE Brand Water Heaters – Performance. Quality. Made in America.

Why Choose GE Water Heaters?

For decades, GE has been a trusted name in residential appliances. When you select a GE water heater, you’re choosing:

A respected brand with a legacy of innovation and reliability.
Products built to deliver consistent hot water performance for your home or business.
Support from a brand that stands behind its workmanship and parts.

American Manufacturing You Can Count On

GE Appliances has invested substantially in U.S. water-heater manufacturing. For example:

GE created a state-of-the-art water-heater manufacturing facility in Camden, South Carolina — a 265,000-square-foot plant with modern, automated production systems.
The facility is described as the “first new tank-style water heater plant built in the U.S. in more than 30 years.”
GE’s RealMAX™ line of water heaters is made in the USA* by GE Appliances experts, in a modern state-of-the‐art facility. (*with 70–90% U.S. content)

This emphasis on U.S. manufacturing means GE water heaters are built closer to you, use domestic supply chains, and adhere to American manufacturing standards and labor practices.

Highlighted GE Water Heater Models

Here are featured GE water heater models to consider:

GE RealMAX Premium 50 Gallon Tall Natural Gas Water Heater — Ideal for larger households (3–5 + persons). Features a 40 000 BTU burner, quick recovery, durable anode rod protection, and SmartShield safety system.
GE RealMAX Choice 40 Gallon Short Natural Gas Water Heater — Space-saving natural gas model designed for mid-sized homes, with ultra low-NOx combustion and high performance.
GE RealMAX Choice 30 Gallon Natural Gas Water Heater — Compact gas model for smaller homes or secondary installations, still offering high performance and reliability with a 34 000 BTU burner.
GE 50 Gallon Electric Water Heater — Traditional electric tank model, offers a true 50-gallon capacity, fast recovery, and stainless-steel heating elements.
GE Smart 50 Gallon Short Electric Water Heater — Premium electric unit with built-in WiFi powered by SmartHQ®, adjustable thermostat, vacation mode scheduling and alerts.
GE 30 Gallon Liquid Propane Water Heater — For homes without natural gas service, this propane-fueled option gives you reliable hot water with flexible fuel source.
GE 50  Smart Gallon Electric Water Heater – True 50-gallon capacity, fast recovery, built-in smart features.
GE 40  Gallon Electric Water Heater – Mid-sized option, solid performance for smaller households.
GE 50  Gallon Electric Water Heater – More traditional feature set with GE’s durability and support.
GE 50  Smart Short Electric Water Heater – Space-saving short-profile unit, smart enabled for modern installs.
GE 40  Gallon Short Electric Water Heater – Compact design tailored for installations with height constraints.
GE 30  Gallon Electric Water Heater – For smaller homes or secondary applications (e.g., guest suites).