Both State and Whirlpool water heaters are manufactured by AO Smith. Whirlpool licenses its brand name to AO Smith for the water heater category (Whirlpool the appliance company doesn\'t make water heaters; AO Smith does, branding them Whirlpool for one specific retail channel).
Same manufacturer, different brands
| State | Whirlpool (AO Smith-made) | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured by | AO Smith | AO Smith |
| Primary retailer | Lowe\'s | Lowe\'s (historic) |
| Tank warranty | 6 years (ProLine) | 6 years standard, 9-year Energy Smart line |
| Brand cachet | Tank-specific brand | Generic appliance brand |
| Typical price | $749-949 (50-gal gas) | $649-849 (50-gal gas) |
Why two brands?
AO Smith uses multiple brands to cover different price points and channels:
- AO Smith Signature — premium with long warranty (Signature Select 9-year, Premier 12-year)
- State — value-tier with 6-year warranty
- Whirlpool — value-tier with similar pricing (sometimes lower)
- American Water Heater — wholesale-channel sister brand
- Reliance — wholesale/contractor value brand
The strategic intent: avoid losing customers who want a recognized appliance brand (Whirlpool) vs a water-heater-specialty brand (State) at the same Lowe\'s.
Practical differences
Internal parts are largely interchangeable between State and Whirlpool. Cabinets and badging differ. Warranty terms are similar but may differ on specific high-efficiency / heat pump variants.
When State wins
- You want a water-heater-specialty brand (homeowner perception)
- State has the specific model you need (e.g., Premier Hybrid heat pump)
When Whirlpool wins
- Recognized appliance brand perception
- Slightly lower pricing on some equivalent models
- 9-year Energy Smart variants offer better warranty than State ProLine 6-year
Bottom line
Same manufacturer, similar product. Choose whichever has the specific model + warranty + price you need. For Premier Hybrid heat pump, State is the clear answer (Whirlpool doesn\'t have an equivalent heat pump line).