If you’re pondering over which brand of water heater to go for, I can very well relate to your confusion.
A few years ago, I was in a mess trying to find a suitable water heater for my home. After all, both the models that I had tried out till then were huge disappointments. And the availability of lots of brands on the market made me feel even more distressed.
That’s when I decided to indulge in some productive research to find a suitable brand. Soon, I came across quite a few models from AO Smith and Bradford White and found that those had garnered many positive reviews.
But the obvious question that cropped up was, “Which one would be more suitable among the two?” This naturally led me to delve deeper to know about their differences, and after a short while, I decided to go for a model from Bradford White.
Since then, I’ve used several water heaters from both brands, and the experience has been quite satisfying. Hey, there! This is Stacy, and I’ve brought you a guide on Bradford White vs. AO Smith to help you make an ideal choice. So, let’s begin!
To understand how the water heaters manufactured by these two brands are different, you must have a basic idea about the models within each range. So, let’s start with a brief introduction to the water heaters from Bradford White and AO Smith.
Based in Ambler, Pennsylvania, Bradford White Corporation is a leading player on the market for water heaters. It offers a variety of high-quality commercial as well as residential water heaters.
The models in its range include the AeroTherm water heater, the Infinity K tankless heater, the standard Upright heater, and several gas-fired water heaters. I’ll be dealing with each of these models in greater detail in the later sections.
During my research, I found that AO Smith is no less popular than Bradford White when it comes to water heaters. In fact, its range of models can give tough competition to the latter since they come equipped with efficient features and excellent build quality.
The models offered by the brand include the ProLine water heater, the Voltex Hybrid Heat Pump, the ProLine water heater, and several gas-fired and tankless models.
Since each brand produces similar categories of heaters, it’s essential to look at the differences in the performance of models within the same range. From my experience with the standard electric water heaters from both brands, I found that the Bradford White heaters typically performed better than those of AO Smith.
A slight disadvantage I observed in the AO Smith model was that it came with crooked water tappings. As such, the technician I hired found it difficult to fix them during the installation, and ultimately, this took a toll on its performance.
Speaking of the advanced hybrid Aero Therm heater from Bradford White I used for two long years, I really liked the temperature control functionality. It always ensured I got the water temperature best suited for any particular season.
On the other hand, the ProLine water heater from AO Smith worked much faster in providing me with hot water whenever required. That’s because while Bradford White heaters have a maximum flow rate of 4.6 GPM, for AO Smith models, the flow rate can be as high as 10 GPM. As such, you can have a more efficient shower with the latter option.
Choosing a water heater that delivers an energy-efficient performance is essential. After all, ordinary models often end up consuming excessive power that shows in the high power bills every month.
A common yardstick for assessing the energy efficiency of a water heater is the Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) which is measured over a 24-hour window. Notably, a higher UEF rating would imply that the heater is more energy-efficient.
Coming to the UEF values for the models of the two brands, I found the rating for the Bradford White gas-fired heater to be much higher than most AO Smith models. And indeed, it was reflected in my power bills as I noticed that the expenses were lower than the two AO Smith heaters I’ve used.
But when it came to the standard electric water heaters, the ratings were the same for both brands.
I am always extra careful about the warranty offered for any appliance. Actually, I had to dispose of certain appliances in the past as the warranty was either applicable for a very short period or was inefficient altogether. That’s why you must never underestimate the importance of a reliable warranty.
In terms of the warranty on offer, AO Smith water heaters are a step ahead of their Bradford White counterparts. That’s because they come with a 12-year warranty on the general parts in addition to a six-year warranty on the primary components. In comparison, the latter offers a limited warranty of six years on the entire appliance.
But the advanced models from Bradford White can last longer than six years if maintained properly as they’re built with high-quality parts.
I hope my guide has helped you decide on an ideal pick as per your needs. However, if you still have any doubts about any aspect of these heater brands, feel free to write it down in the comments section below. I’ll try my best to clear your confusion.
Since models from both Bradford White and AO Smith come with several positives, it won’t be right to label one as superior to the other. Rather, the former will be a better choice for a standard budget-friendly heater, while the latter would be suitable if you want an advanced and more long-lasting model.
With that, I’ll sign off for today. See you soon with some more interesting content. Till then, take care!
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