When looking for a new water heater, the first step probably is looking at brand comparison trying to determine which one is the best for you. As such, you might wonder about Bradford White vs Navien, two renowned brands that most people have heard of.
Both Navien and Bradford White are some of the best manufacturers out there. As such, many people are uncertain which brand they should pick.
You no longer have to worry! We’ve checked all the characteristics of both Navien and Bradford White water heaters so we can give you a comparison.
Here’s everything you need to know when it comes to Bradford White vs Navien water heaters!
Bradford White Vs Navien – Water Heater Type Comparison
Bradford White and Navien are two brands that have very little in common, and yet some might argue that they are very similar.
- One brand is rather old, while other can be considered a new-generation name.
- One brand has an amazing reputation older than most of its customers, while another has just recently got onto the list of best manufacturers.
- Yet, both produce amazing products that have won many awards.
Not just that, but as both are well-known brands, it is very important to fully understand the Bradford White vs Navien comparison. To do so, we’ll list some characteristics of both brands.
Bradford White Water Heaters
Bradford White is one of the oldest water heater manufacturers out there, with more than 130 years of producing amazing products. In fact, you can hardly research water heaters without running into one of their products!
Not only is this company based in USA, but all of its products are made in USA, as well. This guarantees the highest level of quality you can find.
In fact, they were considered among top 3 water heater brands between the years 2017 and 2020!
All of this is enabled thanks to their energy-saving, high-performing products. In fact, even if you compare Bradford White to top-quality brands such as AO Smith, you’ll see that they are considered more energy-efficient.
We’ll look into the characteristics of Bradford White products so you can have an idea of what their water heaters are like.
Gas Water Heaters
Bradford White has more than 20 gas water heater models. This gives you plenty of choice to pick the one that fits your needs – whether you’re looking for commercial or residential models.
The brand even has couple of low NOx models. This will not only help reduce harmful emissions, but it will also help with your utility bills. Most of gas water heaters are energy efficient.
Not just that, but Bradford White gas water heaters come with a unique Defender Safety System. This means that all of its gas water heaters meet the ANSI standard.
Electric Water Heaters
Bradford White has plenty of electric water heaters, as well. This helps it keep up with other brands, so you can even compare it with Rheem. You can find them in several voltages, wattages, phase configurations, and capacities. In other words, you’ll certainly find a product to meet your needs!
All of its electric water heaters are Energy Star qualified, meaning they comply with all the necessary energy-efficiency standards.
Bradford White electric heaters come with AeroTherm heat pumps. Thanks to them, you can choose between 4 operational modules so you can achieve optimal energy-efficiency, performance, and consumption.
Tankless Water Heaters
There are plenty of tankless water heaters to choose from, including both electric and gas models. Not just that, but you can also choose between KwickShot non-thermostatic and thermostatic models.
These units have a compact size, making them an amazing choice for small bathrooms. Also, they are noiseless, which is a great feature considering that some water heaters can have a fairly loud operation from time to time.
Indirect Water Heaters
Bradford White doesn’t have as many indirect water heaters as some other brands, but what it offers is of top-notch quality.
All of it indirect water heaters come with a Hydrojet Total Performance System, reducing tank sediment buildup. This ensures longevity.
Their great capacity, which can be as high as 111 gallons, ensures you’ll never run out of hot water!
Finally, they are suitable for both new and old heaters, so you can be certain they’ll fit into your household.
Warranties
When it comes to Bradford White vs Navien, the last thing to help you understand which brand is better is the warranty. While the warranty isn’t the main thing you should base your decision on, it can help you understand how long you can expect your water heater to last – at the minimum.
In general, all Bradford White models come with at least 6-year warranty, but some might be extended to 10 years. This doesn’t mean that the lifespan of the model is 10 years, as it’s longer – but it ensures that Bradford White will cover all the expenses regarding tank and part repairs while the warranty lasts.
Navien Water Heaters
Compared to Bradford White, Navien is a fairly new company as it was founded in late 1970s. However, it has established a name for itself, which is rather impressive considering the huge number of much older brands.
In fact, Navien has managed to win many awards, including the 2021 FacilitiesNet Vision Award for HVAC, which was given to its NFC series.
All of this has helped Navien compete with much older brands, such as Rinnai.
But where do we stand when it comes to Bradford White vs Navien? Let’s check out Navien’s products to learn more!
Gas and Electric Water Heaters
Navien doesn’t have nearly as many gas water heater models as Bradford White. In fact, most of its products are combi-boilers. with NCB-H series being among them.
Its products use Dual Venturi system to ensure better turndown ratio and combustion control. Not just that, but all of its combi-boilers come with an Orifice conversion kit that ensures easy field gas convertibility.
Finally, its products are mostly made out of stainless steel, ensuring longevity and exceptional performance. This includes a stainless steel heat exchanger, which is of a higher quality than a copper heat exchanger many brands use. This ensures there aren’t many Navien tankless water heater problems.
Similarly, Navien offers several amazing electric water heaters, but expect most of them to be tankless. All of them meet the energy-efficiency standards, so you can use them without worrying how it will reflect your utility bills.
Tankless Water Heaters
Navien offers some of the best tankless water heaters out there, especially if you look into their NPN and NPE-2 series. With its products, you can get an endless supply of hot water while saving on your utility bills.
In fact, many consumers and reviewers alike would argue that Navien offers THE BEST tankless water heaters on the market.
Some of its newest series, the NPE-A2 and NPE-S2, have already gained praise and are easily becoming more and more popular, especially among residential water heaters.
Warranties
And Navien doesn’t focus on water heaters with tank, it’s warranties do get a bit more complicated. There isn’t a tank to be replaced, which means you need to look into a part that’s at fault.
Most accessories come with a 3-year warranty, which is rather great. However, this can vary depending on the part in question. Some parts have a warranty of only 90 days.
Bradford White vs Navien – Which One Should You Choose?
Decision making is tough. If we would have to choose a single winner in this match, we’d say that Bradford White has an upper hand.
Not only did Bradford White prove that it can be among the best products for over a century, but it also offers a huge variety of products. On the other hand, the much younger Navien mostly offers tankless models.
However, when it comes to tankless water heaters, Navien can easily be the best of the best. No other brand can match its exclusive products, which says a lot.
Final Word
Bradford White vs Navien, which one is better? It all comes down to your expectations and desires.
If you’re looking for a tankless water heater, Navien might be the way to go. Its products are energy-efficient and long lasting. Just make sure to check the warranty on each part!
For all other types of water heaters, our vote goes to Bradford White.
When making a decision, make sure to look into your own needs. Not everyone requires the same type of products, and what works the best for someone else might not be what you need. Still, we hope our review helped clear out some ambiguities you might have had.
Michael Davis is a heating & plumbing expert who currently works as independent contractor in SC. He also writes for Plumbertip.
For almost 10 years he worked on various plumbing tasks across South Carolina.
