1. Electric, Natural Gas or Propane?
   Of all the fuels available, electric water heaters will have the highest energy efficiency. Your local energy costs though may make cost of operation less for one than another even if it is less efficient. Generally speaking, a Marathon will be less expensive to operate than propane in nearly all markets and due to the volatile nature of natural gas prices, Marathon is now the least cost alternative compared to natural gas in many markets. An additional advantage is that there is no risk of fuel leaks, NOX fumes, or carbon monoxide with an electric water heater. There are also less expensive to install and do not need unsightly flues with venting issues.

2. How do I know how efficient a tank is?
   Many competitors will immediately talk about first hour rating. While useful for sizing, this is a poor judge of the quality of a water heater as it is strictly a factor of the element wattage. A 50-gallon drum with the same wattage input will have roughly the same first hour rating as a conventional 50-gallon water heater. The best judge is Energy Factor (EF) which is a mandatory evaluation done on all water heaters. It takes into account usage, standby loss, insulation, etc all under simulated actual conditions. In all categories, we will have the highest EF of any tank on the market. This means the Marathon is only heating the water you use and not letting it radiate into surrounding space during periods of non-use.

3. What do I look for in a water heater warranty?
   First, check the length of the warranty. According to DOE the average life expectancy of a steel heater is no more than 10 years. If your last heater lasted 20 years, be thankful, as your next steel heater likely won’t. Older water heaters had much thicker steel and more porcelain than the new units. Because manufacturers have cut so many costs from the manufacturing process, most steel water heaters made today will not last much longer than their warranty. Remember, installation costs are the same for most electric heaters and who wants to pay that every 5 or 6 years? Also consider the damage that can occur if your heater leaks and you don’t catch it right away. Secondly, look at the warranty exclusions. Many companies offer what looks like a great warranty, when in fact the causes of most failures will void the warranty (ex. hard water, laying the tank on it’s side in shipping, etc.) Marathon offers the purchaser a lifetime “no-leak” warranty (in residential applications), and you won’t see all the fancy legal exclusions and side-stepping the other companies use. If your tank leaks in normal applications, we give you another – that’s it, no strings, double talk or pro-rating of your tank. Isn’t that the way it should be?

4. What else do I look for on the tank?
   What is included on the tank? Marathon INCLUDES a factory installed temperature and pressure (T & P) relief valve, union fittings for all connections, a vacuum relief valve, and 4’ of pipe insulation. These are often additional “accessories” you need to purchase on steel water heaters. Look for quality components too. We use brass drain valves and fittings – not the “one time use” cheap plastic fittings used on lesser products. Our tank is actually “bowl shaped” at the bottom to allow for more complete sediment removal and draining. Bet that tank at the big box store on the corner doesn’t offer that!

5. What size do I need?
   How many people do you have in your family? Any other large hot water uses in your home such as whirlpools or Jacuzzis? Although there may only be two in the home now, if it is a 4 bedroom home we recommend sizing it for the potential use as it will help potential resale. Remember, you are buying a lifetime heater with low operating cost. Buy the one that will do the job now and in the future!

Number in Family:	1-2	3-4	5-6(or water heater under control)	>6
Tank Size:	30, 40, or 50	50 or 85	85	105

* We recommend a minimum of an 85 gallon or larger for whirlpools and Jacuzzis