State Water Heaters
Same parent company as A. O. Smith, different channel. Which changes what the comparison means.
Heat & Tap earns a commission on qualifying purchases made through the Amazon links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Commission does not decide what we recommend or how we rank it. Full disclosure.
State is an A. O. Smith brand. A. O. Smith Corporation makes both the A. O. Smith and State lines, and also markets American Water Heaters, Reliance and Takagi in North America. So comparing a State unit against an A. O. Smith one is comparing two badges from one manufacturer, not two engineering programs.
If you have been quoted for a State water heater by a plumber and you cannot find it at a retailer, nothing is wrong. State is primarily a wholesale brand within the A. O. Smith portfolio, and that is where the difference lives — in the channel rather than in the fundamental engineering.
What this means for you, practically
- A State quote is not a lesser quote. It is a wholesale-channel brand from one of the two companies that dominate American water heating.
- Cross-shopping State against A. O. Smith is not a real comparison. Compare the first-hour rating and the warranty on the two specific model numbers instead; the badge tells you very little.
- Parts and support run through A. O. Smith. Useful to know when you need a gas valve in 2032.
- Specification data may be easier to find on the equivalent A. O. Smith model, since the retail line has more consumer-facing documentation.
The A. O. Smith portfolio in context
| Brand | Position | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| A. O. Smith | Its own flagship brand | Retail and wholesale |
| State | Its own brand | Primarily wholesale |
| American Water Heaters | Marketed by A. O. Smith in North America | Wholesale |
| Reliance | Marketed by A. O. Smith in North America | Retail |
| Takagi | Tankless, marketed by A. O. Smith in North America | Wholesale |
| Lochinvar | Acquired 2011; primarily boilers, about 45% water heaters by branded sales | Wholesale |
That is six badges from one corporate parent, which is most of the apparent variety in a plumbing wholesaler's catalog. The full brand ownership map.
What we would buy instead, and why
Our registry covers the A. O. Smith-badged units rather than the State equivalents, for one honest reason: the published specification data is easier to source and verify on the retail line, and this site does not publish figures it cannot cite.
That is a documentation preference, not a judgment about the hardware. If your plumber is quoting a State unit and the model's first-hour rating and warranty suit your household, there is no engineering reason to object.
Quick picks
Tap any row to read the full assessment below, or go straight to Amazon from the right-hand column. We earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  A. O. Smith Signature 100, 50 gal gasThe straightforward 50-gallon gas replacement, and the reason to pay attention to the burner size: the 50,000 BTU version is rated at a 91-gallon first-hour rating against 77 gallons for the 40,000 BTU one. | Most gas tank replacements | Check price on Amazon No live price feed on this site, so we show none. #ad |
| 2 |  A. O. Smith Voltex MAX, 66 galAn 83-gallon first-hour rating at a 3.84 UEF — the heat pump water heater for a household that runs several showers back to back and still wants the running cost of a heat pump. | Largest first-hour rating | Check price on Amazon No live price feed on this site, so we show none. #ad |
The A. O. Smith units we can document
Pick 1 — Most gas tank replacements
A. O. Smith Signature 100, 50 gal gas
The straightforward 50-gallon gas replacement, and the reason to pay attention to the burner size: the 50,000 BTU version is rated at a 91-gallon first-hour rating against 77 gallons for the 40,000 BTU one.
| Capacity | 50 gallons |
|---|---|
| First-hour rating | 91 gallons (50,000 BTU model); 77 gallons (40,000 BTU model) |
| Burner | 50,000 BTU/h ultra-low NOx, or 40,000 BTU/h |
| Dimensions | 61 in H x 22 in dia (50,000 BTU); 60-3/4 in H x 22 in dia (40,000 BTU) |
| Warranty | 6-year tank and parts with 1-year labor (50,000 BTU); 9-year tank and parts with 2-year labor (40,000 BTU) |
What is good
- A 91-gallon first-hour rating from a 50-gallon tank covers back-to-back showers that empty an electric tank of the same size
- Widely stocked at Lowe's, so same-day replacement is realistic when the old one fails
- Ultra-low NOx burner meets the stricter air-district rules in California and Texas
- 22-inch diameter fits most existing alcoves without re-plumbing
What is not
- The longer 9-year warranty is on the smaller burner, so warranty and recovery pull in opposite directions
- Atmospheric venting needs a working chimney or B-vent
- Standing pilot and flue losses mean it idles energy away all day
Skip it if: Skip it if your water heater sits in a sealed closet or a space with combustion air problems. An atmospheric gas tank needs real combustion air and a real flue — the power-vent or direct-vent models exist for exactly that case.
No live price feed on this site, so we show none. #ad
Specifications above from Lowe's listing, Signature 100 50-gal 50,000 BTU; Lowe's listing, Signature 100 50-gal 40,000 BTU 9-year. We have not tested this unit ourselves.
Pick 2 — Largest first-hour rating
A. O. Smith Voltex MAX, 66 gal
An 83-gallon first-hour rating at a 3.84 UEF — the heat pump water heater for a household that runs several showers back to back and still wants the running cost of a heat pump.
| Capacity | 66 gallons |
|---|---|
| First-hour rating | 83 gallons |
| Efficiency | 3.84 UEF |
| Certification | ENERGY STAR certified |
What is good
- 83 gallons in the first hour beats an 80-gallon resistance tank
- 3.84 UEF is still roughly four times a resistance tank
- 66 gallons of storage plus fast recovery is the combination big households actually need
- ENERGY STAR certified for rebate eligibility
What is not
- Lower UEF than the Voltex AL at the same capacity — you are trading some efficiency for delivery
- Large footprint
- Wholesale distribution
Skip it if: Skip it if two people live in the house. You would be buying 66 gallons and an 83-gallon first-hour rating to serve a demand a 50-gallon unit covers, and paying standby losses on the difference every day for a decade.
No live price feed on this site, so we show none. #ad
Specifications above from First Supply listing, A. O. Smith HPTA-66 Voltex MAX. We have not tested this unit ourselves.
Questions worth asking about any wholesale-brand quote
- What is the exact model number? Everything else follows from it.
- What is the first-hour rating? Not the capacity. Why.
- What are the tank, parts and labor warranty periods? They are usually three different numbers.
- Does it need registration for the warranty, and within what window? Rheem requires 90 days; check whichever brand you end up with.
- Is thermal expansion control included in the quote? On a closed system it is required. Expansion tanks.
- Is a drain pan included, and is it the right diameter? Drain pan sizing.
What goes in with it
A water heater is a system, not a box. These are the parts that go in with it, and the ones people discover they need halfway through the job.
- Expansion tank
Required by code on a closed system, which is most homes with a pressure-reducing valve.
- Drain pan
Cheap insurance anywhere the tank sits above something you care about.
- Anode rod
The part that decides when the tank leaks. Replacing it is the highest-value hour of maintenance there is.