Richmond and State are both subsidiary budget brands. Different manufacturers, different retailers.
Comparison
| Richmond Encore 50-gal Gas | State ProLine 50-gal Gas | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Rheem | AO Smith |
| Tank warranty | 9 years (Encore) | 6 years (ProLine base) / 8 years (XE) |
| Retailer | Menards | Lowe\'s |
| Heat pump line | Encore Hybrid (4.0+ UEF) | Premier Hybrid (3.45 UEF) |
| Tankless | Encore Tankless (RH130/RH95) | None (AO Smith uses Takagi) |
When Richmond wins
- Menards shopper
- 9-year Encore warranty vs State ProLine 6-year
- Higher-UEF Encore Hybrid (4.0 vs 3.45 Premier Hybrid)
- Tankless preference
When State wins
- Lowe\'s shopper
- State Premier Hybrid at lower price than Encore Hybrid (despite lower UEF)
- State is your installer\'s preferred brand
Bottom line
Both are subsidiary budget brands. Choose by retailer + product line preference. Richmond has slightly better tier mapping for warranty + heat pump performance.