AO Smith manufactures AO Smith, State, Reliance , Lochinvar, American, ProLine, US Craftsmaster, Kenmore, Whirlpool, and Lowes brands of water heaters.
I identified one particular model of water heater sold at Lowes that was also sold at independent plumbing supply houses under the AO Smith, State, Reliance, and American brand names, each with a slightly unique, but similarly coded model/part number. With all five model numbers written down, I contacted AO Smith and provided tech support with the model numbers, and was informed that they were all built exactly the same, which is consistent with the specs of these five particular models of water heater, which matched exactly, from product weight to .UEF factor to BTU to dimensions to first hour... everything matched.
Except warranty. While AO Smith and State have aligned warranty provisions, the other three distribution channel / brands of this particular water heater (American, Reliance, and Lowes) can vary, with no change in how the unit is built. For example, all brand iterations of this particular model of water heater have brass drain valves, and all have the same combo anode rod part number, and none have two anode rods, despite three brands having a 6 year warranty, one brand having a 10 year warranty, and one brand having a 12 year warranty.
The facts for this particular model of water heater may not apply to all models of water heaters that AO Smith makes under all these different brands. But what the research did reveal was that in this instance, there was no difference in equipment, features, manufacturing location, or build quality between the big box brand vs the supply house brand vs the boutique retailer brand of this particular model of water heater. And that of course disrupts the notion that the supply house is always "best".
What is really best has less to do with the equipment, and more to do with
1. The competency of the installer
2. The completeness of the installation
3. The quality of the workmanship
4. The relationship that the installer has with the supplier, when or if it comes time to actually have to invoke the warranty for a defect in parts.
5. The willingness of the installer to stand behind and guarantee the work
The perception that the professional supply house brands are better than retailer or big box brands is often promogulated by plumbers to promote business, when in fact the real and far more authentic value that a plumber can bring to the table is actually summarized in points 1 through 5 above, and has absolutely nothing to do with the water heater itself.
In at least some instances, the exact same heater can be found under different brand names, sold through different channels. This may not always be the case, but in the cases where it isn't, that could just as likely be due to a deficiency in the research undertaken to make an accurate model by model comparison. Not everyone has the time or interest to delve that deep, and are more satisfied simply accepting a general notion, rather than finding specific facts.
Some Bradford White burner assemblies are indeed different, patented, and unique to Bradford White. I'm referring to the actual ultra low nox burners themselves. On the other hand, Bradford White is "full of it" when they suggest that they "innovated" their so called "MilliVolt" line, using thermopile "technology" instead of thermocouples. I have a house that has a 75 year old floor furnace from American Standard, built in 1942, that uses a 700 milliamp thermocouple to actuate the gas valve. It is laughable for Bradford White to imply that they innovated this as "new" "technology".
That's said simply as another example that demonstrates that the quality of installation can be more meaningful than the marketing claims of a brand.
