This Is The Most Reliable Water Heater Brand, According To Thousands Of Reviews

Whether you're fitting in a new water heater or just replacing your old one, you should invest in the most trustworthy and reliable appliance brands. This is because you'd be spending anywhere between $700 and $4,000 for a new unit. Plumbing and electrical work will cost you extra. Plus, if you buy off-brand models, you'll save money initially but will have to pay for frequent repairs and replacements. Worse, you'll be forced to take cold water baths until the unit is fixed. So, you want to invest in a durable water heater brand. But how do you choose the best one? Should you go with expert reviews or listen to commission-earning contractors?

To take the guesswork out of the equation and simplify your decision-making, we went through thousands of organic customer reviews to find the most reliable water heater brand. The general consensus? Bradford White is a brand worth investing in. It manufactures quality products that stand the test of time. Even plumbers agree, with one Reddit user commenting, "I install a lot of BWs and they're pretty worry free." And if your heater starts offering lukewarm water, you can reach out to its dependable customer support team for a resolution. They stand by their warranties, too. "I love the BW warranty. The two I've had to replace I called from the customers home confirmed coverage and replaced," said another Reddit user. That being said, remember that you'll have to pay a high price for Bradford White's premium quality heaters. They're also only available through registered plumbers (so, you won't find it locally and the prices may vary) and require an expert for installation.

Bradford White is a domestic brand that has been manufacturing water heaters for the last 144 years (it started in 1881). Since it's produced locally, you can enjoy all the benefits of buying an American-made appliance. For instance, there's a good chance you won't have to wait for replacement parts or a pro plumber for long. Moreover, the brand claims that it sources the best raw materials and components from different parts of the world to offer Built to be the Best® products to its consumers. Highlighting the durability of the company's water heaters, a Reddit user commented, "Prefer bradford white over anything else. Better warranties and build quality." Another mentioned that they got about four decades use out of their last Bradford White water heater: "I have to replace my water heater now, seeing as it started leaking a couple days ago. The one I have is a gas Bradford White. It was installed in 1988. I got 36 years out of that thing."

Additionally, you'll be spoilt for choice since the company manufactures tankless, heat pump, gas, electric, and indirect water heaters for residential use. Whichever option you go with, choose ENERGY STAR-certified products because they consume less electricity (a.k.a. lower utility bills). A few models are eco-friendly, too, due to their zero emission design. Coming to warranty, Bradford White Corporation covers the glass lined tank and associated parts responsible for leaks or device malfunctions. And that, too, is for a limited period. It can be one, six, or 10 years from the date of installation, depending on your device's model.

Water heaters demand a significant investment. So, naturally, you'd want them to last at least 10 to 20 years to get a high return on your invested capital. But you can only get your money's worth if you buy one from a dependable brand. This is because unreliable appliance brands don't last long. Even if they lure you in with promises of extended warranty, shoddy customer service or unresponsive teams will have you regretting your choice later. To save you the frustration, we went through thousands of customer reviews on user-driven platforms like Reddit. Based on our findings, we shortlisted three brands: Rheem, AO Smith, and Bradford White.

Although Rheem used to hold the title for one of the best water heaters a few years back, the product quality is no longer the same. In fact, you could experience issues early on with the newer models. "I have a plumber in my basement right now replacing my Rheem professional series tank for the third time in a little over a year," complained a Redditor. AO Smith didn't make the cut because the reviewers were pretty divided. While a few are loyal supporters of the brand, others (including professional plumbers) don't like it much. A top 1% commenter opined, "Love Bradford. AO Smith seems to be not as reliable, in my opinion, but Bradfords never give me trouble." Other sources, too, rank Bradford White as the most durable water heater brand, making it our top choice.