Are Reliance hot water heaters a sub-company of Whirlpool?

[Marty 1]

Hi: Is the company that makes Reliance hot water heaters a subsidiary of Whirlpool? I heard that Reliance heaters are having the same dirty screen problem as mentioned in the Whirlpool thread. Could this type of problem be inherent with all hot water heaters since the fed enclosed the heater's burner? Marty

[hj]

No, they are a subsidiary of State/A O Smith. I believe Whirlpool is made by American Heater Company. There are only a few manufacturers and all the various brands come from them. Ruud, Rheem, GE, Vanguard, and Richmond, and possibly one or more others, for example are all made by the same manufacturer.

[jimbo]

A.O. Smith Water Products division is a subsidiary of A.O. Smith Corporation. They manufacture water heaters under the following brands: A. O. Smith, State, Reliance, Apollo, Maytag, GSW, John Wood, and American. All of these were once stand alone water heater companies, absorbed by A. O. Smith. Hard to tell at this point to what extend they are still independent in terms of design and manufacture.

The American Water Heater subsidiary, of Johnson, Tennessee, makes water heater under the American brand, and for the international and private label market, under the Pro-Line and US Craftmaster brands. US Craftmaster is identified as the manufacturer for the Whirlpool brand, of recent infamy at Lowes.


If you think this is all confusion, it is the rule, rather than the exception, in industry these days. Try to identify the manufacturer of a Ridgid tool these days!

[Marty 1]

Hi: Speaking of knowing who manufactures what: Who makes the Branford White that Brent Audi mentions in the Whirlpool thread (P. 9). Marty

[edwardh3]

there are no a o smith heaters in the box stores then?
As lowes whirlpool is american heater,
and home depot's GE is Rheem??

[hj]

Correct. The A O Smith brand is for plumbing wholesalers.

[jimbo]

The A.O. Smith label is sold through plumbing suppliers. You will not see it in a box store. If you follow the trail I mentioned, the Whirlpool brand sold exclusively at lowes is made by a susidiary of the parent A.O. Smith company

The GE label, excusive to Home Depot, is made by Rheem.

[Gary Swart]

The Rheem is an excellent choice even if it is sold by HD.