Richmond is Rheem subsidiary at Menards. AO Smith is at Lowe\'s under multiple badges.
Manufacturer comparison
| Richmond (Rheem) | AO Smith | |
|---|---|---|
| Parent | Rheem | AO Smith |
| Tank manufacturing | Yes (Rheem factories) | Yes (AO Smith factories) |
| Tankless | RTGH series | Via Takagi subsidiary |
| Heat pump | ProTerra platform | Voltex platform |
Tier comparison
| Warranty tier | Richmond | AO Smith |
|---|---|---|
| 6-year | Essential | Signature |
| 9-year | Encore | Signature Select |
| 12-year | Premium | Signature Premier |
| 10-year hybrid | Encore Hybrid | Voltex |
When Richmond wins
- Menards shopper
- Tankless preference (Richmond Encore Tankless; AO Smith via Takagi only)
- Menards-channel pricing
When AO Smith wins
- Lowe\'s shopper
- Voltex heat pump preference
- Premium plumber-channel relationship
Bottom line
Choose by retailer + manufacturer ecosystem preference.