Where Are Reliance Water Heaters Made

Reliance is one of the most common water heater names found in big box home improvement stores, yet very few shoppers realize the brand is actually built by one of the largest water heater manufacturers in the country.

Understanding that ownership connection explains a lot about why Reliance water heaters offer the value they do at their price point.

Here is exactly who makes Reliance water heaters, where they come from, and what actual homeowners think after living with one.

Who Really Makes Reliance Water Heaters

Reliance Water Heaters is fully owned by A O Smith Corporation, operating through State Industries Inc, the AO Smith subsidiary documented on the Wikipedia entry for A O Smith that AO Smith acquired in 2001.

This places Reliance in the same corporate family as AO Smith, State, and American Water Heaters, all of which sell water heaters at different price points built with shared engineering resources.

Reliance Water Heater Manufacturing Locations

Reliance water heaters are manufactured primarily at AO Smith flagship production facility in Ashland City, Tennessee, the same complex described by the company as the largest water heater manufacturing facility in the world.

Because Reliance shares this manufacturing base with its more expensive sister brands, the fundamental tank construction is often very similar despite Reliance typically retailing at a lower price point aimed at budget conscious homeowners.

Why Reliance Is Positioned As A Budget Brand

Reliance is generally sold as the entry level tier within the AO Smith brand family, commonly found at major home improvement retailers where price sensitive shoppers are comparing tank style water heaters side by side.

The lower price typically comes from shorter standard warranty terms and fewer premium features rather than a fundamentally different manufacturing process, since Reliance benefits from the same production scale as its AO Smith siblings.

What Owners Say About Reliance In Trustpilot And Reviews

Reliance benefits from broader sentiment tied to its AO Smith parent company, and Trustpilot feedback for the corporate family in 2026 tends to be mixed, with product performance rated reasonably well while customer service response times draw more consistent criticism.

Home improvement retail reviews for Reliance specifically tend to praise the straightforward installation and budget friendly pricing, while the most common complaint involves the shorter warranty window compared to premium tier competitors.

Reliance Warranty And Customer Support

Reliance water heaters carry a tiered limited warranty that is typically shorter than the AO Smith flagship brand, and coverage can be verified using the serial number lookup tool on the official AO Smith warranty verification page since both brands share the same parent company support system.

For warranty or service questions, Reliance customers can contact AO Smith customer support at 1 800 527 1953, the same line used across the AO Smith family of brands.

How Reliance Compares To Other Water Heater Brands

Buyers weighing Reliance against its corporate siblings can read our guide to where AO Smith water heaters are made or our breakdown of State water heaters, another AO Smith brand that sits at a similar price tier to Reliance.

For most budget focused buyers, the real decision comes down to warranty length and retailer availability rather than meaningful differences in build quality between Reliance and its sister brands.

Is Reliance Water Heaters Really Good

Reliance offers a genuinely reasonable entry point into AO Smith manufacturing quality, making it a smart pick for homeowners replacing a standard tank style water heater on a budget.

Buyers who want longer warranty coverage or premium features should compare Reliance carefully against its higher tier AO Smith siblings before deciding, since the price difference often comes down to exactly those two factors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reliance Water Heaters

Who owns Reliance Water Heaters

Reliance Water Heaters is owned by A O Smith Corporation through its State Industries subsidiary, which AO Smith acquired in 2001.

Where are Reliance water heaters manufactured

Reliance water heaters are manufactured primarily at the AO Smith flagship facility in Ashland City, Tennessee.

Is Reliance a good water heater brand

Reliance is generally regarded as a solid budget option, offering AO Smith manufacturing quality at a lower price point with shorter standard warranty coverage.

Where can you buy Reliance water heaters

Reliance water heaters are commonly sold through major home improvement retailers, making them one of the more widely available AO Smith family brands for direct consumer purchase.