The Rheem Marathon water heater is recognized for its innovative, lightweight plastic shell and corrosion-resistant tank. It comes with a lifetime warranty and boasts an energy-efficient design. The tank is incredibly durable and resistant to dents, scratches, and salt air. It features a thermally fused upper element that protects against dry-firing, while the titanium lower element provides superior resistance to lime build-up. The water heater contains polyurethane insulation to help reduce energy consumption. The tank also comes in a variety of sizes from 30, 40, 50, and as much as 100-gallon capacities.
So, why did this water heater fail to gain traction in the marketplace? With this impressive array of noteworthy features, the question becomes why did this water heater not live up to its potential? Turns out, the reasons are plenty.
Trouble in Paradise
Marketing a product involves highlighting its features capturing consumer attention. It is simple to promise consumers that purchasing your product will solve all of their problems. However, as the old saying goes, “Show, don’t tell”. This statement also applies to the life cycle of products and services. While it is one thing to tell customers about all of the wonderful benefits of your product, it is another thing for customers to purchase your product and experience its value firsthand.
Once consumers have had a chance to experience a product’s performance they have everything needed to provide honest testimonials and reviews. Unfortunately for Rheem, the customer experiences with the Marathon water heaters are not all favorable, leading to struggles in the consumer market. Here is a list of challenges faced by consumers.
- Reports of leaks occurring within the first few days after installation
- The calrod heating elements malfunctioning and not sufficiently heating the water
- An issue with the vacuum relief valve causing water leaks
- Faulty thermostats leading to inconsistent water heating temperatures
- Reports of water pooling around the base of the tank caused by loose fittings from faulty pressure relief valves, or cross-threaded pipes
- Increased noise levels while in operation due to mineral or sediment buildup on elements
- Misleading lifetime warranty declaration as consumers learned this product has a limited warranty and can only be replaced once
- The plastic shell causing consumer concerns with plastic contaminants potentially introduced into their drinking and bathing water
- The water heater is only powered by electricity and not gas, meaning in the event of a power outage, the water heater stops working
- The plastic shell is not as durable as advertised. Some consumers received new water tanks with dents and holes
- The water heater is more expensive on the frontend compared to traditional water heaters
- Some consumers experienced difficulties receiving timely service or finding replacement parts
- An unexpected substantial increase in consumer’s monthly electricity bills
Like any product, issues arise from time to time, which is part of the normal product life cycle. Some problems are rare while others are reported more frequently, sometimes resulting in product recalls. At times there are minor issues reported that have little impact on a customer’s product experience, and other times there are major issues significantly affecting consumer sentiment. Based on the reported issues above, customers have experienced a variety of both minor and major problems, leading to mixed results in testimonials and reviews for the Rheem Marathon water heaters.
Some companies overlook that a product’s reputation is not only judged by its performance but also by customer service experiences and how effectively a company addresses the reported problems from consumers. Also, how well companies compensate their clients for any negative experiences plays an important role in shaping their reputation. This has been another challenge for some consumers with obtaining consistent and reliable customer service when addressing problems with their Rheem Marathon water heaters.
In addition, for any new products on the market, it is common for initial issues to arise, leading companies to make adjustments to correct these problems in newer models. Unfortunately, for the Rheem Marathon water heater, consumer trust has been rattled by repeated mechanical failures over time, which has shaken customer confidence and raised doubts about whether these issues are being addressed properly.
Rheem Marathon Water Heater Verdict?
While there have been plenty of favorable reviews and positive experiences by customers using the Rheem Marathon water heater, there are still consistent issues reported with the parts and functionality of this lightweight, and durable plastic entry into the water heater market. This does not guarantee consumers are going to run into some of these known problems reported, but it is something to keep in mind if the Rheem Marathon water heater is a candidate on your product list to potentially purchase.
It is important consumers proceed with their due diligence and conduct careful research on the different water heater models and options available to help them make a wise decision about which product will work best for their situation.
