Replacing my hot water heater........

I don't have any suggestions but when ours had to be replaced we went through our utility company, PSE&G.

We replaced our 50 gallon water heater to a Tankless water heater! they are not inexpensive, but worth it!!

Keep in mind a 50 gallon is relatively small in what it holds. We had a 66 when our kids were here, after they left home and we needed a replacement we got the 50 just for the 2 of us, and we regret it, we often run out of hot water when we still need it.

On 3/2/2015 RedTop said: I am not aware of there being that many brands of water heaters available. We have had 4 water heaters in 40 years; all were the same brand and came from Lowe's.

Exactly!

I have a gas water heater, but when I had it replaced about 3 years ago, they installed a brand called AO Smith. The installer told me that many of the other brands use this company's water heaters & slap their own brand name on it. I guess kind of like Whirlpool make appliances that are rebranded for Sears, etc.

One word of advice is to not be overly impressed by warranties. Returning a defective hot water heater can be nearly impossible making the warranties largely useless. I keep waiting for someone to make a water heater with a plastic/rubber liner of some sort that would solve the leaking issue. The glass lining always ends up failing while plastic/rubber could last far, far longer.