This is all ...... my honest opinion only...     

  We call it --- as we see it go down  ---  every day.....   

As of  3-1-03,  all residential gas heaters  were re-designed  to be made fire resistant with     FVIR TECHNOLOGY

The cost of  gas heaters has  doubled and there is  plenty  more that can go wrong with many  brands. 

 With the new   FVIR Heaters  ,   it's wise to buy one that  RARELY NEEDS REPAIRS ,   IS  EASY TO FIND  PARTS FOR  and  EASY TO SERVICE .

Everyone  has designed  their  own  " special FVIR  unit"   to pass fed laws,   and  some  brands have very     

"unique"      "hard to find "    "special order" 

" absolute pain in the neck"    repair parts.   

Whichever  brands  stand the test of time ,  remains to be seen.  . 

Here is info on all the popular brands made today..               

Bradford White    40,000 btu -- A+   a very reliable brand.   it has a "common sense design" ...and is very easy to service.

 http://411plumb.com/bradford-white-defender-water-heater-review

  http://www.bradfordwhite.com/images/shared/pdfs/specsheets/104.pdf    

  http://www.bradfordwhite.com/ecodefendervideo.asp

 POWER VENTED GAS HEATER

RHEEM  40,000 btu    A+   extra safe.  Has a very reliable FVIR system and is easy to service. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bgehome.com/images/fvir_b.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bgehome.com/water_heaters_fvir.php&usg=__QjZd0-F-au3K1rewZ9vwgYlUhpk=&h=378&w=125&sz=7&hl=en&start=6&sig2=ls3SksXFFwzxcI2lAaYXwg&um=1&tbnid=WP2Yx8Hjo1ujgM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=40&ei=BP2hSa7uO6W-MYuJycEL&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drheem%2Bfvir%2Bheater%2Bpics%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS281%26sa%3DN

Richmond and GE    rate a    C

no one in town is willing to do GEs + Richmonds  warranty repair work,   so getting one fixed fast is a problem..

http://www.complaints.com/2006/february/13/Home_Depot_Hot_Water_Heater_Installation_would_not_10139.htm

http://www.complaints.com/september2003/complaintoftheday.september23.29.htm

  http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=19737

 http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=16641

A.O.Smith  + State  D   junk.   small air filter needs cleaning.       

Sears-- made by Smith  D- 100% junk.   read 100 complaints in the link below

http://baheyeldin.com/technology-in-society/mistaken-identity-help-with-kenmore-water-heater.html
  

 http://www.planetfeedback.com/index.php?level2=blog_viewpost&topic_id=261013

http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=33373

Bradford White   +    Rheem  heaters  are the best  because  you never  have to  fool with  lint filters  and they always honor their warranty issues down the road.  

 WHIRLPOOL FlameLock   F-    

  by  AMERICAN WATER HEATERS     

 http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=35405

IMHO... This is  the  worst piece of junk ever made ,  you are throwing your money away on futile repairs that wont last long. 

Their class action lawsuit in California.

 http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/whirlpool_class_action.html

warranty is void if you dont clean your 

"lint screen"   every  3  months.. !!!!      

http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=30296

 Even after being fined millions in a class action lawsuit,  this brand has not gotten any better,  they actually made the problem worse.

recent  dates of the complaints...http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/whirlpool_water_heaters.html

http://eplaw.us/thermocouple.html   ---

http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=8776&wrapper=

http://www.complaints.com/directory/2005/april/21/4.htm\

ATTEMPT  REPAIRS AT YOUR  OWN RISK!!!

many folks have broken off  the  internal gas line .

     Look at the junk on the bottom of a  2  year old Whirlpool unit...taken out 10-22-05 .