Customer Reviews for Rheem Marathon 50 gal. Short 4500/4500-Watt Elements Non Metallic Lifetime Electric Tank Water Heater

I installed it 4/22 the quality was great. Use backup wrenches when installing. I like the idea of a lifetime tank. Time will tell

This appears to be a truly top quality lifetime warranty water heater that should outlast me. Price was reasonable for a lifetome unit.

As it has been said before "Porsche there is no substitute"! If you live with high acidity or alkaline well water, make the investment for a water conditioning system. Then install this water heater. The combination not only makes your life easier, but healthier. Never had a water heater that was so easy to install, and produces almost unlimited hot water. It should also save a lot on electric hear in the NEPA mountains, because it has superior insulation. Will outlast you, and guaranteed to add resale value. Not a bad review, maybe Rheem will send me a t-shirt to offset the cost!

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

I purchased two of these heaters because of the Rheem advertised “Lifetime Warranty”. When I registered them on line with Rheem for the Lifetime Warranty, I found out that it was a limited warranty. I reached out to them to questioned what that meant, but never received an answer that made any sense. I realize that the thermostats and heating elements will ware out, but I have no idea what my limited warranty covers. Home Depot uses Rheems words “Non Metallic Lifetime Electric Tank Water Heater” in your ads also. Maybe you can get a more definitive answer from Rheem than I did. I paid a high price for a Lifetime Warranty that I may not have if I need it!

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Heats up fast. Holds the heat well. Plenty of hot water. A bit pricey but worth it for the piece of mind that the tank will never corrode.

3 Bradford Whites rusted out on me in 18 yrs - This is suppose to be once and done! Here's hoping!

We went with the rheem because of a persistent bad odor from the hot water. We had tried filtration with no success. Once the rheem was installed the odor completely disappeared. Worth every penny

We have only had this new hot water heater installed for several weeks so it is hard to tell how it will be in the long term. But it is a really excellent design, it works very well, and looks great!

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Finally something I can install and forget about for the rest of my life so far as tank replacement or leakage goes. No more dealing with replacing anodes and tank corrosion. Looks good - lasts a long, long time.

So far, so good. Replaced a typical “steel” water heater - 80 gallon - with this 50 gallon “plastic fantastic” in a 4BR 1-1/2 story home - with the addition of a Cash-Acme “booster” - and we’ve got all of the hot water imaginable. Tank will NEVER RUST! Has a lifetime, transferrable warranty!

Our Marathon water heater produced hot water at 148 degrees F. The folks at Customer Service suggested the issue could be a "grounded element" so they promptly sent us a new one. Did not resolve the issue. Sent new thermostat. THREE visits by plumber at our expense. We are not pleased.

Sturdy well built easy to install, heated up pretty quick

The best water heater

Just installed looks great

Even though this type electric water heater is twice the price of a galvanized steel electric water heater, it provides us with plenty of HOT water, despite it being a low profile 50 gallon unit. The recovery time is super quick, its insulated tank keeping the water piping hot, and with the added feature of not having the worry that a standard steel tank unit will rust out at the bottom after a few years, it's worth every penny! Having Rheem quality makes this non-metallic water heater one of the best investments I have made for my family and home.

I think it will be an excellent replacement from my normal metal tank heater.I am a licensed plumber in N.Y. .I installed this heater in my other home in florida and the water quality is terrible there causing terrible corrosion in tank and on connected water pipe!!!!!

This heater seems to be well made. Make sure to be careful about twisting the fittings (see caution statement in the instructions). Note, that it has a diameter that is similar to an 80gal tank - the heater straps for a 50gal tank will be too short.

Replaced an 18 year old GE 40 gal with the Rheem 50 gal. Never ran out of hot water with the GE. Now if I take a long hot shower I always run out. Raised the temperature in the Rheem and put on a new shower head . Maybe this will help. We'll see.

Just installed it. So far so good. It installs just like any other electric water heater (one electrical connection and 3 plumbing connections). If this works as advertised, we can forget about leaks from a rusting tank. We’ve been using it for about 3 weeks and get plenty of hot water for two.

Plenty of hot water. Seems efficient

I had this water heater installed in May 2017 after the previous 2 gas water heaters failed before they could make it to their warranty. The HVAC company I called sold me on this water heater - 10 year warranty on the tank, super insulated, high efficiency, the best on the market. I just about fell out of my chair when I got the electric bill a month after the install. I was anticipating some increase in the electricity but did not anticipate my electric consumption to DOUBLE! I was hoping the first month was a fluke (40 gallons of cold water to heat upon installation). But no, here it is a year later and month after month my electric bill is DOUBLE what it was before installing this water heater. There have been no changes to my household other than this water heater to cause the increase in my electric. Yes, I have hot water, but if I had the money to rip this thing out and start all over again, I would in a heartbeat.

Nice unit.installed easy peasy. Time will tell as to longevity..

bought a marathon model no. MR75245 and the bottom heating element went out, DO YOU THINK I COULD FIND A REPLACEMENT NO,NO,NO the one I took out is a bend-over measuring 19 1/2 inch tip to flange, I do not know how many people I talked to at RHEEM but could never get the right part, they sent me a 13 inch long one, so if you go to buy one, better buy a couple of spare heating elements because after time you will not be able to get the right part

If you want the best, this is the one and only choice for you.