RANKED: 2024 AMERICA’S MOST TRUSTED WATER HEATER BRAND
What are the Best Water Heater Brands?
Water heaters serve as the vital linchpin in controlling the water temperature within our homes, offering an energy-efficient means to maintain comfortable conditions. With escalating energy expenses, consumers are increasingly attuned to the efficiency of their water heating systems. While considering gas and electric options is common when shopping for a new unit, brand reputation often takes precedence. Considering a water heater's approximate lifespan of 10 years and its pivotal role in sustaining a home's needs, placing trust in the manufacturer becomes paramount. So, what is the best water heater?
The 2024 America’s Most Trusted Study
A decade after its launch, America's Most Trusted® continues to help brands improve their understanding of how trust affects consumer buying decisions. Trust is one of the most important determinants of brand success and is directly linked to business results for successful brands. Every year, updated results are revealed in January, making the study one of the most anticipated in the industry.
To ensure customers' return or repeat purchases, trust building is necessary. A brand's reputation is determined by customers' confidence in the water heater company's ability to deliver its promises. Consumers who trust a water heater brand have a greater propensity to purchase and recommend it to others. Brand trust also contributes to customer loyalty, as they are more likely to remain loyal to the water heater brand they trust.
Lifestory Research shares the most recent outcomes of the America’s Most Trusted® study every year. We conduct surveys with thousands of consumers annually, gathering insights into their perceptions and experiences with different brand products through more than 75 specific product studies. This study employs the Net Trust Quotient Score to assess individuals' trust in brands when purchasing.
Net Trust Quotient Scores (NTQS) are used to determine whether a product meets customer expectations compared to competing brands within a specific product category by assessing the level of trust customers hold for a particular brand within a particular product category. With this trust metric, consumer-driven insights are provided using social and opinion science research practices that adhere to the highest standards of consumer research.
What are the top water heater brands that people trust the most? The American's Most Trusted Study was conducted to provide answers to this question. Through a survey asking consumers to rate each brand within the category of water heaters, the study aims to determine which brands they trust the most.
2024 America’s Most Trusted Water Heater
The Lifestory Research 2024 America’s Most Trusted® Water Heater Study found Bosch as the most trusted brand among people considering the purchase of a water heater. With the Net Trust Quotient Score of 109.2, Bosch had the highest trust rating among the most popular water heater brands.
The Lifestory Research 2024 America’s Most Trusted® Water Heater ranking is based on 6,547 opinions of people surveyed in the United States over the last 12 months.
The most trusted water heater brands in order were Bosch, Whirlpool, Rheem, GE, Kenmore, AO Smith, Ruud, Bradford White, and Rinnai. Brands included in the final ranking were determined by people actively shopping for a water heater who rated the brands with whom they were familiar or encountered as they were shopping.
A brand's low awareness and insufficient evaluative data determined exclusion from the rankings. Water heater brands needed to accumulate enough survey responses to attain a 95% confidence level with no more than a 3% margin of error to qualify. This statistical rigor accurately represents the surveyed population's opinions concerning the brands analyzed.
The top water heater brands ranked in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® water heater study is listed below.
TOP 9 Water Heaters Ranked – 2024 Study
| 1 | Bosch | 109.2 | ★★★★★ |
| 2 | Whirlpool | 108.9 | ★★★★★ |
| 3 | Rheem | 107.2 | ★★★★ |
| 4 | GE | 106.8 | ★★★★ |
| 5 | Kenmore | 105.7 | ☆☆☆ |
| 6 | AO Smith | 102.7 | ☆☆ |
| 7 | Ruud | 102.2 | ☆☆ |
| 8 | Bradford White | 100.7 | ☆☆ |
| 9 | Rinnai | 97.2 | ☆☆ |
No promotional use or advertising can be made of America's Most Trusted® survey results without the express prior written consent of Lifestory Research. America's Most Trusted® is a registered trademark of Lifestory with all rights reserved.
The America’s Most Trusted® study is an annual study examining brand trust across many product categories. Results for this product category and others from prior years of the study can be found here. Further details of the annual study are on the survey methodology page of this website. Additional insights and questions are answered in our frequently asked questions.
Lifestory Research America's Most Trusted® Study results are based on survey responses and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Your experiences may vary. For details, see our Terms of Use and Legal Notices on the Lifestory Research website.
Brands Ranked in Study
The Lifestory Research America’s Most Trusted® research study actively surveys water heater shoppers throughout the year in the United States. The study is focused on measuring consumers' opinions of the most recognized water heater brands in the market. In the study, consumers rate the quality of the water heater brand, their likelihood of recommending the water heater to others, how favorable they feel about the brand behind the water heater, how they rate the reputation of the water heater, and their trust in the water heater brand.
Here, we provide information on the brands in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® study. The brands are presented in the order they ranked in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® study.
Bosch:
Bosch, a German multinational engineering and technology company, manufactures a variety of products, including water heaters. The company was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Gerlingen, Germany. Bosch water heaters are known for their efficiency and advanced technology.Whirlpool:
Whirlpool Corporation, an American multinational manufacturer of home appliances, owns the Whirlpool brand. Founded in 1911 and headquartered in Benton Charter Township, Michigan, Whirlpool is a major player in the appliance industry. Whirlpool water heaters are designed to provide reliable hot water solutions.Rheem:
Rheem Manufacturing Company, an American privately held manufacturer, is a global leader in heating, cooling, and water heating products. Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Rheem is well-known for its water heaters and other HVAC solutions.GE (General Electric):
General Electric, commonly known as GE, is an American multinational conglomerate that manufactures a wide range of products, including water heaters. Founded in 1892 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, GE has been a significant player in the appliance industry, offering various home solutions.Kenmore:
Kenmore is a brand of household appliances, including water heaters, owned by Transformco. Originally introduced by Sears, Kenmore has a long history in the appliance industry and provides a range of water heater models.AO Smith:
A. O. Smith Corporation, an American corporation, is a global leader in water heating and treatment. Founded in 1874 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, AO Smith is renowned for its water heaters and is a prominent name in the industry.Ruud:
Ruud is a brand of heating, cooling, and water heating products owned by Rheem Manufacturing Company. Founded in 1889 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Ruud is recognized for its water heaters and HVAC solutions.Bradford White:
Bradford White Corporation is an American manufacturer of water heating, space heating, and storage products. Founded in 1881 and headquartered in Ambler, Pennsylvania, Bradford White is a well-established water heater industry brand offering a range of products for residential and commercial use.Rinnai:
Rinnai Corporation is a Japanese multinational company that manufactures gas appliances, including tankless water heaters. Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, Rinnai is known for its innovative and energy-efficient water heating solutions, particularly tankless water heaters.
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