Anybody have Warranty experience with Marathon lifetime water heater?

kc5dlo · Sep 8, 2016

I installed a Marathon 50 gallon water heater back in '98 or '99. I busted a water line while mowing and had to shut off the water to repair. Repair was pretty simple but Later last night I heard water dripping when I walked past the water heater area. Water was seeping out the top of the heater where the water lines enter the tank. It was also running from the cover to the upper element. This heater has always made noises when either releasing the water pressure or turning on the water. I am guessing the expansion cracked it when I turned the water back on.

I purchased from Home Depot but I am pretty sure I need to work with Marathon directly. Anybody have any advise they would like to share?

kenmac · Sep 8, 2016

check real close. Are you sure you just don't have a leak on the threads where the water line enters the tank ? I have seen this happen. The water will come up around the suspect fitting and run down the side of the tank until it finds an exit point like the cover of the element

kc5dlo · Sep 9, 2016

The water is not leaking past the threads. It is definitely leaking from the inside of the heater. Filled out the contact form on the website yesterday morning. Could not find a phone number to call and speak to a person. Have not heard back. Guess I will have to buy another water heater. I am not giving up on getting a replacement though. I paid twice the price of a conventional water heater and not happy about this failing.

kenmac · Sep 9, 2016

A warranty is only as good as those backing it !

ustmd · Sep 9, 2016

Curious to see how this works out. I am guessing that the water hammer when you turned the supply back on cause a failure somewhere. I wonder if Marathon will try to say it is not a defect in workmanship or materials, so not covered under warranty.

dadster4 · Sep 10, 2016

If you don't have an expansion tank installed... and the water supply was turned off... and the heater was left on...too much pressure may have finished off any crack that had been developing up until then (which would be a defect covered under warranty anyway) I wouldn't mention the waterline repair...let the leaking heater speak for itself, and it should be covered under warranty.