Kenmore  55 gal. Tall 12-Year Electric Water Heater

was easy to install and is working great for over a year now

Process was acceptable regarding the entire experience. This was a warranty replacement water heater and I was happy with the outcome.

I installed it myself using flex hoses and the push on O-ring brass connectors for my water lines. No problems and is working fine. Adjustments are easy to make and its well insulated too.

I cannot advise strongly enough to potential buyers that they NOT purchase this product. I bought one, it leaked and had to replace under warrantee. Then that one leaked. Both times had a very bad experience with customer service - without going into too many details, I was not happy with how I was treated using their warrantee. I took their advice and purchased an $800 acid neutralizer, and a $500 water softener to protect the next water heater. I bought another one of these "12 year" heaters, and it lasted about 2.5 years before leaking again, with another extremely frustrating customer service experience. That was on 10/6/09. Now IT has blown a seam, too. Unfortunately, because the leaks start so slow, they are not noticed until the flood overcomes the drainage pool, and this time I had a quarter inch of water across the entire 800 square feet of brand new wall to wall carpet on that level. Needless to say, I will not be attempting to fight with Sears again to replace it.

The reason to buy this heater is the 12 yr warranty? Wrong! Tank leaked after 6-1/2 years. Treated like an idiot when initially trying to get warranty service. Why not allow customer to submit photos instead of stupid paper towel test? This heater was leaking out of every screw hole and on top and 1" water in drain pan. After 2 day wait, service tech came, took one look and confirmed tank leaking. Service good from this point onward. Tech provided a coupon to negate cost of service call. The 12 yr warranty only includes labor for initial year so you could pay nearly the cost of a new heater to have it installed if older than 1 year. Or you could do it yourself or use a plumber friend. Once tech phoned in the details, the authorization process for the replacement was quick and the people helpful on the phone and at store. TIP: Shut water off and relieve hot water pressure at night to preclude flooding if you have to wait for service as I did.

A leak from an 80 gal. water heater that had outlived its warranty by 5 yrs. sent me online in a panicked search of a replacement. Lots of choices, but most had an 11-18 day wait time for in-store delivery.  On recommendation of a friend, I checked the Sears website and was impressed with what I found and the model I chose was in stock at a store within 1/2 hr. of my home!  Within 2 hrs. I had ordered, picked up, and was setting up a new water heater.  This particular model is a power miser with a 12 year warranty.  It was easy to install, even though the height required some plumbing modifications.  So far, so good.  Plenty of hot water and no complaints or problems.  I am anxious to see a difference in my utility bills. And by the way....this unit was installed by two 50+ sisters!

I installed this heater in 2007. I purchased it because of the 12 year warrenty. I have had to replace it twice already due to the tank leaking. It is now leaking again. I have not had one last up to two years. Then Sears policy is they will not replace it until checked by a service person because I obviosley am not smart enough to tell that my basement is flooding due to a faulty water heater. When I called about this situation Sears told me a service person is not available for 8 (eight) days. Sears has lost a good long term customer.

Wasn't satisfied with product or with sears warranty services. The water heater only lasted 8 years and when I tried to get sears to cover it under the warranty, they would not cover it. Ended up purchasing a water heater somewhere else. After over 40 years of purchasing alot of appliances, tools, etc. I will take my business elsewhere. I'm done with them. No wonder people don't shop there as much anymore.

Worked fine for 3 years, then shorted (blew circuit breaker). Sears set repairman 4 days later. Warranty covers parts but you pay for labor + $80 "trip charge" (more than the cost of replacement parts so warranty = joke). Hours after repairman left, heater shorted out again. Another 4 day wait before repairman can come back (I'm not in a rural area -- I live 2 miles from mall with Sears store -- apparently Sears repairmen are just very busy). More than a week without hot water; Sears couldn't care less.