You can return an unopened, unused water heater to Home Depot for a full refund within 90 days of purchase. The item must be in its original condition, and you should bring the original receipt or the credit card used for the purchase.
The Home Depot accepts returns on unopened, unused water heaters within 90 days of purchase. If the box has been opened or the unit has been installed, you cannot return it for a refund; instead, you must process it through the manufacturer’s warranty.
The "7-minute rule" at Home Depot refers to the attendance grace period, which dictates that you can clock in up to 7 minutes after your scheduled start time without being marked tardy. If you clock in at the 8-minute mark or later, you will receive an attendance occurrence (or half-point penalty).
Keep the installation invoice!
If your purchase was made with The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card, The Home Depot Pro Xtra Credit Card (Commercial Revolving Charge), or The Home Depot Commercial Account, you have 365 days from date of purchase to receive a full refund, unless noted in “In-Store Return Exceptions,” “Online Return Exceptions”, “Return ...
The term "grace period" at The Home Depot most commonly refers to the attendance and time clock rules for employees. However, depending on your context, it can also refer to their consumer credit card billing or return policy limits.
The Home Depot generally does not accept returns on custom products, opened hazardous materials, installed services, or used sanitary items.
You can return these items within 30 days of purchase: Liquid paint. TVs and electronics. Water heaters.
The class action lawsuit against Rheem Manufacturing and Melet Plastics (West v. Rheem Manufacturing Company, et al.) addresses claims that round poly drain valves on certain water heaters produced and sold between 2019 and 2023 are defective and prone to leaking. The settlement provides compensation, warranty extensions, and replacement valves.
Water Heater Lifespan
If your tank water heater is more than 10 years old, it may be time to consider replacing it. With proper maintenance, a tank water heater tank should last six to 12 years. A tankless water heater can last for more than 20 years.
If you had invested $1,000 in Home Depot at its initial public offering (IPO) in September 1981, your investment would be worth between $12 million and $32 million today, depending on whether you reinvested your dividends.
The "4-hour rule" refers to several different guidelines depending on your context, most notably a strict limit on intensive daily mental work, an airline passenger protection policy, and a food safety standard.
If you worked 8 hours and 8 minutes, the system would pay you for an additional 15 minutes. While it sounds like that would all balance out at the end of a work week, a 2022 lawsuit claimed otherwise. The lawsuit, brought in California, alleged that the rounding system had resulted in unpaid wages.
The Home Depot offers traditional water heater tanks and modern tankless units, both powered by either gas or electricity. Depending on your selection, the average cost for standard tank installation is generally between $1,600 to $2,400.
Water heaters purchased at Home Depot (typically Rheem) come with manufacturer warranties ranging from 6 to 12 years. These generally include 1–3 years of limited labor coverage and 6–12 years of limited tank coverage, though exact terms are based on your original purchase receipt.
Buying a water heater from Home Depot is great if you want to save money on the unit itself and need it quickly. However, the installation quality can be hit-or-miss because they use third-party local contractors, making the process highly dependent on who they send to your home.
Unused Rheem water heaters can be returned to The Home Depot within 90 days for a full refund. If the water heater is defective or failing under warranty, you can process a warranty exchange, though the exact process and value may vary.
The longest-lasting water heater brands are Bradford White and Rheem (specifically the Marathon series). Bradford White is favored by plumbers for professional installations and longevity, while the Rheem Marathon uses a unique fiberglass tank backed by a true lifetime warranty.
Water leaks are perhaps the most common type of water heater issue you'll face. Any water heater will start to leak eventually, as by nature water will eventually corrode your tank and create microscopic cracks or fractures. However, this isn't always a sign that your tank is what's leaking.
The Home Depot accepts returns on unopened, unused water heaters within 90 days of purchase. If the box has been opened or the unit has been installed, you cannot return it for a refund; instead, you must process it through the manufacturer’s warranty.
Lowe's standard return policy allows you to return most new, unused merchandise within 90 days of purchase for a full refund. However, there are a few important exceptions, receipt requirements, and extended return windows you should keep in mind:
A typical water heater warranty ranges from 6 to 12 years, depending on the unit type and model. It is usually split into three tiers: the tank/heat exchanger (6 to 12 years), parts (1 to 10 years), and labor (1 year). Most tank warranties only cover the tank replacement, excluding shipping and labor.
Refund Policy Exceptions
Returns for purchases with valid proof of purchase will be refunded to the original form or payment (credit card, cash, credited to your account, PayPal, refunded via Store Credit, etc.) unless noted in our Exceptions.
The Home Depot processes returns based strictly on the condition and origin of the item. While brand-new merchandise returns to the shelf for full-price sales, open-box, defective, or heavily used items are either liquidated via bulk pallets, returned to the manufacturer, or reconditioned.
Home Depot can typically look up your in-store receipt for up to 24 to 30 months if you provide the original credit/debit card used for the purchase.