No document we read says that mineral content voids coverage, and the documents differ on what they do say. A Rheem certificate for its residential tankless gas water heaters, edition 07/08, excludes damage caused by lime, scale or mineral build-up, and failures from not maintaining the unit “including outside recommended water quality levels.” A Rheem certificate for its residential electric heat pump water heaters, edition 09/16, has no exclusion naming lime, scale or water quality that we could find, but it excludes failure to maintain the unit per the instructions and operating it with the anode rod removed. Which applies to you depends on the document that came with your unit.
What The Tankless Certificate Excludes
Rheem’s residential tankless gas certificate, edition 07/08, lists two exclusions that touch on water conditions. One covers damages, malfunctions or failures resulting from improper installation or from failure to operate and maintain the unit in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions provided, including outside recommended water quality levels. The other covers heat exchanger failures caused by operating in a corrosive or contaminated atmosphere, and damages, malfunctions or failures caused by lime, scale or mineral build-up. It also excludes heat exchanger failures from operating the unit when it is not supplied with potable water free to circulate at all times.
That certificate is for one product family and is a 2008 edition, so it tells you how Rheem worded those exclusions then for those units. It is not a statement about Rheem’s current tankless units or about any other maker.
What The Heat Pump Certificate Excludes
Rheem’s residential electric heat pump certificate, edition 09/16, excludes failure to operate and maintain the unit in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, but names no water-quality condition we could find. Among its listed exclusions are damages from operating the water heater with the anode rod removed or with modified, altered or unapproved parts installed, tank failures from operating in a corrosive or contaminated atmosphere, and tank failures from operating when it is not supplied with potable water free to circulate at all times. We found no exclusion in it that names lime, scale, mineral build-up or water quality.
Not sure what your certificate says? Call (717) 500-8528 with the model number.
What State Water Heaters Says About The Anode
State Water Heaters’ residential electric manual says not to remove the anode, and that doing so voids all warranty on the tank. Its words are that the anode should not be removed leaving the tank unprotected, and that by doing so all warranty on the water heater tank is voided. That is a different condition from water quality, and it is the one Rheem’s heat pump certificate also touches. For what the rod does, see our anode rod guide.
Why This Page Reaches No Conclusion About Your Unit
The wording differs between documents, products and years, so no single answer applies. One document names lime and mineral build-up and one does not; both tie coverage to following the manufacturer’s instructions, which means your own manual and certificate decide. We read copies of the two Rheem certificates hosted on a retailer’s website, and we could not confirm they are current. We did not read documents from other makers, so we say nothing about them. For where coverage fits in a replacement decision, see repair or replace and how to choose a contractor.
What To Do
- Find your own certificate or the coverage section of the manual that came with the unit, and read the exclusions list for water quality, deposit, anode and maintenance wording.
- Learn your own number before assuming anything about your water; see our testing guide and what the units mean.
- Follow the maintenance language the manual gives; water heater maintenance is where that gets done.
- Ask the manufacturer about a specific claim rather than relying on this page or on anyone else’s summary.
What This Page Will Not Tell You
It will not tell you whether your coverage is valid, and it is not legal advice. We state no coverage length or term, no comparison between makers, and no claim about this business’s own workmanship terms, because none is confirmed. For the effect of mineral deposits on the equipment itself, see our effects guide.
Need Help Reading A Warranty Document?
Service requests and emergency service are available 24/7 across Lancaster City and Lancaster County.
Call For Emergency ServiceWarranty Document FAQ
Can mineral buildup void water heater coverage?
It depends on the document. Rheem’s residential tankless gas certificate, edition 07/08, excludes damage caused by lime, scale or mineral build-up. Rheem’s residential electric heat pump certificate, edition 09/16, has no exclusion naming lime, scale or water quality that we could find. Your own certificate decides.
Do the documents exclude lime damage?
One of the two Rheem documents we read does. The tankless certificate, edition 07/08, excludes damages, malfunctions or failures caused by lime, scale or mineral build-up on heat exchangers and the unit. The heat pump certificate, edition 09/16, lists no such line. We did not read other makers’ documents.
Can removing the anode rod void coverage?
Yes on State Water Heaters’ wording. Its electric manual says not to remove the anode leaving the tank unprotected, and that doing so voids all warranty on the water heater tank. Rheem’s heat pump certificate excludes damage from operating the water heater with the anode rod removed.
Do all manufacturers word these exclusions the same way?
No, and the two Rheem documents we read already differ. The tankless certificate names lime, scale, mineral build-up and water quality levels; the heat pump certificate does not, though both tie coverage to following the manufacturer’s instructions. We did not read other makers’ documents, so we compare none.
Where do I find the terms for my water heater?
In the certificate or the coverage section of the manual that came with the unit, or from the manufacturer using the model and serial number. The documents we read are written per product and per edition, so a general summary, including this one, is not a substitute for yours.
Who can help me read a water heater certificate near me in Lancaster County?
Lancaster Water Heater Pros services water heaters across Lancaster City and Lancaster County. Call (717) 500-8528 with the model number from the rating plate. We state no terms of our own. Service requests are accepted 24/7.