Finally installed my new Sta-Rite heater. A quick review.

[mshumack]

StaRite is a good brand. You should be happy (except for when gas bill comes in) for years to come. Don't put down RayPac just yet. They have some great new products. I have a 2005 RayPac heatpump. It is very well built. I also have a older model Jandy (Laars) gas heater which is not built as well as the newer Laars heaters.
At least the manufacturers are impoving their products.

[cruzmisl]

Raypak may be great but as I said every manufacturer has their own host of issues. I just wasn't too excited about buying another one given my past experience. That is not to say in the years to come the Sta-Rite will not suffer the same fate. However based on build quality alone it's seems much more unlikely.

J.

[JROLAND508]

I just replaced my Sta-Rite heater with an electric heat pump. I had the Sta-rite for 3 years when the heat exchanger started leaking. Support claimed it is caused by my water, but you really can't refute them, and it is out of warranty. Repair would have been close to the cost of buying a new one and with the price of propane at 2.75 a gallon, I went with the heat pump. Plus the heat pump has a lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger and 10 years on the compressor. Down side is it doesn't heat the water as fast, but does keep it at a steady temp once it is warmed.

Good Luck with yours - I have parts if you are interested

[cruzmisl]

Good Luck with yours - I have parts if you are interested

Hopefully I'll have better luck.