Rheem Water Heater Warranty Guide
Manufactured by Rheem Manufacturing Company · Warranty info last verified: March 2026
Rheem water heaters are covered by Rheem Manufacturing Company. This guide covers 7 product lines: the Performance / Professional Classic, Performance Plus, Performance Platinum / Prestige, ProTerra / Hybrid Heat Pump, Tankless Gas, Tankless Electric, and Marathon (Lifetime Tank). Across those lines, tank or heat exchanger coverage stretches from 5 years on the Tankless Electric to 12 years on the Performance Platinum / Prestige, with a lifetime option on select models, parts reach 12 years, and labor runs up to 1 year. The warranty stays with the original owner and does not transfer to later owners, registration is required within 60 days of installation, and claims run through 800-374-8806. An extended warranty program, ProtectionPlus, is also available to lengthen coverage.
Quick Warranty Facts
Tank / H.E. Coverage
5–12 yr + Lifetime
Parts Coverage
12 years max
Labor Coverage
1 year
Transferable
No
Extended Warranty
Available
Registration Required
Yes: within 60 days
Warranty by Product Line
Coverage periods vary by model series. Check your model against the table below.
| Product Line | Tank / H.E. | Parts | Labor |
|---|---|---|---|
Performance / Professional Classic Entry-level residential line sold at Home Depot and through contractors. | 6 yr | 6 yr | 1 yr |
Performance Plus Mid-tier residential line. | 9 yr | 9 yr | 1 yr |
Performance Platinum / Prestige Premium residential line. Some models include up to 3 years labor. | 12 yr | 12 yr | 1 yr |
ProTerra / Hybrid Heat Pump Heat pump water heaters. Premium efficiency line. | 10 yr | 10 yr | 1 yr |
Tankless Gas 12-year heat exchanger warranty. Applies to Rheem, Ruud, Richmond, and Sure Comfort branded units. | 12 yr | 5 yr | 1 yr |
Tankless Electric Shorter warranty than gas tankless models. Includes the RTEX series. | 5 yr | 1 yr | None |
Marathon (Lifetime Tank) Lifetime tank warranty due to blow-molded plastic tank that cannot corrode. Parts covered for 6 years. No anode rod required. | Lifetime | 6 yr | None |
How to Register Your Rheem Water Heater
Rheem requires registration within 60 days of installation to activate full coverage on your chosen line (7 are covered here). Missing that 60-day window can reduce your coverage, so complete it right after install. After that, check status any time at https://www.rheem.com/warranties/warranty-verification/.
You will need:
- Serial number (from the rating label)
- Model number
- Installation date
- Installer's name and contact info
- Your name and address
Have these ready before the 60-day Rheem deadline passes.
What's Covered
- Defects in materials and workmanship under normal residential use
- Performance / Professional Classic: 6-year tank coverage, 6-year parts, and 1-year labor
- Performance Plus: 9-year tank coverage, 9-year parts, and 1-year labor
- Performance Platinum / Prestige: 12-year tank coverage, 12-year parts, and 1-year labor
- ProTerra / Hybrid Heat Pump: 10-year tank and compressor coverage, 10-year parts, and 1-year labor
- Tankless Gas: 12-year heat exchanger coverage, 5-year parts, and 1-year labor
- Tankless Electric: 5-year heat exchanger coverage, 1-year parts, and no labor coverage
- Marathon (Lifetime Tank): a lifetime tank warranty, 6-year parts, and no labor coverage
- Lifetime tank protection on the Marathon (Lifetime Tank) against tank failure
- Heat exchanger failure on the ProTerra / Hybrid Heat Pump, Tankless Gas, and Tankless Electric
What's NOT Covered
Rheem lists 8 situations that fall outside coverage on its 7 lines:
- Improper installation or failure to meet local codes
- Installation by unlicensed contractors
- Sediment and scale buildup (considered routine maintenance)
- Thermal expansion damage - expansion tank required in closed systems
- Unauthorized third-party accessories or energy-saving devices
- Units with rating labels removed
- Labor costs after the first year (unless ProtectionPlus was purchased)
- Shipping costs for returning failed units
Extended Warranty: ProtectionPlus
Cost Range
$130–$250
Additional Years
+4 years
Includes Labor
Yes
Buy at Install
Required
Extends coverage up to 4 additional years with parts and labor. Must be purchased with the initial installation. Enhancement components are physically installed in the unit.
How to File a Rheem Warranty Claim
- 1
Locate your serial number on the rating label on the front or side of the unit
- 2
Register your water heater at rheem.com/warranties if not already registered
- 3
Verify warranty status online using your serial number
- 4
Contact the original installing contractor for service
- 5
If the original installer is unavailable, contact any local Rheem dealer or call 800-374-8806
- 6
The contractor diagnoses the issue and submits the warranty claim
- 7
Rheem may require the failed unit or parts to be returned for inspection
Rheem warranty line: 800-374-8806
Warranty Transferability: No
Warranty is only available to the original owner at the original installation location. It is not transferable.
Bought a home that came with a Rheem unit? Because Rheem coverage stays with the first owner, the remaining warranty probably did not follow the sale to you, even if the calendar time has not expired. To confirm, decode the serial with our free tool for the manufacture date, then call the Rheem line at 800-374-8806 (labor help is limited to 1 year from install).
Additional Notes
Rheem also manufactures water heaters sold under the Ruud, Richmond, GE, and Sure Comfort brand names. Warranty terms are identical across these brands. The effective warranty date is the installation date if documented, otherwise the manufacture date plus 90 days.
Related brands with similar warranty terms:
Rheem Warranty FAQ
How many years does the Rheem tank warranty last?
Rheem offers a lifetime tank warranty on the Marathon (Lifetime Tank), while its other lines (Performance / Professional Classic, Performance Plus, Performance Platinum / Prestige, ProTerra / Hybrid Heat Pump, Tankless Gas, and Tankless Electric) carry 5 to 12-year tank or heat exchanger coverage. Parts are covered for up to 12 years and labor for up to 1 year.
Can I transfer a Rheem water heater warranty to a new owner?
No. Rheem warranties are not transferable. Warranty is only available to the original owner at the original installation location. It is not transferable.
How do I check whether my Rheem water heater is still under warranty?
Decode your serial number with our free tool at WaterHeaterChecker.com to find the manufacture date, then compare it against the coverage for your line (Performance / Professional Classic, Performance Plus, Performance Platinum / Prestige, ProTerra / Hybrid Heat Pump, Tankless Gas, Tankless Electric, and Marathon (Lifetime Tank)). Rheem also publishes an online warranty lookup at https://www.rheem.com/warranties/warranty-verification/ where you can check status directly by serial number. You can also call Rheem at 800-374-8806 with your serial number.
What voids a Rheem water heater warranty?
Common warranty voiding issues for Rheem include: Improper installation or failure to meet local codes; Installation by unlicensed contractors; Sediment and scale buildup (considered routine maintenance).
Does Rheem sell an extended warranty for the Performance / Professional Classic, Performance Plus, Performance Platinum / Prestige, ProTerra / Hybrid Heat Pump, Tankless Gas, Tankless Electric, and Marathon (Lifetime Tank)?
Yes. Rheem offers ProtectionPlus: Extends coverage up to 4 additional years with parts and labor. Must be purchased with the initial installation. Enhancement components are physically installed in the unit. It adds 4 years of coverage, includes labor, and costs $130–$250. It must be purchased at the time of installation.
What should I do if my Rheem water heater fails under warranty?
Locate your serial number on the rating label on the front or side of the unit. Then register your water heater at rheem.com/warranties if not already registered. The Rheem warranty line is 800-374-8806.
More for Your Rheem Water Heater
Not sure which of Rheem's 7 lines you have?
Coverage differs across Rheem's lines, so decode your serial number to find the manufacture date and match it to the right 7-line warranty range above.
Decode Your Rheem Serial NumberThe 7 coverage figures shown above were last verified in March 2026 and are provided as a helpful reference only. Warranty terms are set by Rheem and may change at any time. Always refer to the warranty certificate that came with your water heater for the definitive terms of your coverage. WaterHeaterChecker.com is not affiliated with Rheem or Rheem Manufacturing Company.