Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020

AO Smith GPVT-40 Residential Natural Gas Water HeaterWater heaters are a basic requirement for every home; however, they consume about 20 percent of the total energy usage of a household. Advanced technologies can reduce that usage dramatically whereas new regulations make improved energy efficiency obligatory.

However, stiffer rules and choices can make acquiring your next water heater very complicated than ever.

These best AO Smith water heater reviews are expertly evaluated and owner opinions used to identify the top tankless, gas, hybrid and electric water heaters as well as find the top AO Smith water heater that suits your requirements.

Product Name Image Capacity Overall Rating Details
AO Smith (BTH-150) Tank-Type Water Heater With Commercial Natural Gas Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 100 Gal 10 Check price
A.O. Smith GPVL-50 ProMax Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 60 Gal 8 Check price
A.O. Smith ENS-50 ProMax Short Electric Water Heater, 50 gal Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 52 Gal 7.5 Check price
AO Smith (BTR-200) Tank-Type Water Heater With Commercial Natural Gas Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 100 Gal 6 Check price
AO Smith (EJCS-20) Residential-Electric Water Heater Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 20 Gal 7.5 Check price
AO Smith (GDV-50) Residential Natural-Gas Water Heater Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 45 Gal 8 Check price
AO Smith (GPVT-40) Residential Natural-Gas Water Heater Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 40 Gal 6 Check price
AO Smith (PNS-50) Pro-Max High Efficiency 50 gal Tall-Electric Water Heater Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 50 Gal 5.5 Check price
A.O. Smith PNS-50 ProMax Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 50 Gal 6 Check price
AO Smith GPVT-40 Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020 41 Gal 9 Check price

30
Models Considered
13
Hours of Research
1
Experts Interviewed
114
Reviews Analyzed

How we tested

Most homes have water heaters in the continental United States. Being able to have hot water whenever you want or need is something many people take for granted. In actuality, this ability depends on how high-quality your water heater is. Unfortunately, most people do not know how to tell good water heaters from bad ones. That is why we put our expert product testers to work for you. Since AO Smith has a good reputation, we wanted to figure out which of their options were the best of the best. Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020
We compared real customer reviews to put together our testing pool. Then we worked with professional water heater installers to make sure we were evaluating them based on the proper characteristics. Some things we considered during the testing process were speed, lifetime, warranties, price, and capacity. What we ended up with were ten great options for you to check out if you are in need of a top tier water heater that you can trust.

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AO Smith (BTH-150) Tank-Type Water Heater With Commercial Natural Gas

AO Smith BTH-150 Tank Type Water Heater with Commercial Natural Gas

AO Smith (BTH-150) Tank-Type Water Heater With Commercial Natural Gas Product Details

Features:
  1. Intelligent control system featuring an LCD display
  2. Submerged combustion chamber comprising a helical heat exchange coil
  3. Powered anodes offer long-lasting tank protection in different water conditions
  4. BTH-150 has PERMAGLAS ultra coat glass lining
  5. Vent Size: 3
  • Product
AO Smith BTH-150 Tank Type Water Heater with Commercial Natural Gas

AO Smith BTH-150 Tank Type Water Heater with Commercial Natural Gas

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PROS:
  • Puts out a lot of hot water without running out
  • Saves about 30-50 percent energy costs
  • The heater is small and can be hung on the wall, setting up more floor space
CONS:
  • Lag time of 3 to 8 seconds to light up the burners and heat the water to the set temperature
  • Installation may be a huge project
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A.O. Smith GPVL-50 ProMax – Electric Water Heater

 

A.O. Smith GPVL-50 ProMax

A.O. Smith GPVL-50 ProMax Product Details

Features:
  • Increased storage – The PHPT-80 tank has high capacity storage to enable the heat pump to work efficiently than the other heating elements. This provides lower operating costs and higher energy efficiency, saving more money compared to lower capacity units
  • Backup electric elements – Long-lasting heating elements, 240 V/2000 W lower and 240 V/4500 W upper, helps heat water while in hybrid and conventional electric modes
  • Operating modes – Select from efficiency, electric or hybrid operating modes, to match heating requirements to various environmental conditions
  • PERMAGLAS glass coating – This feature maximizes tank life and protects steel tank from corrosion
  • VOLTEX offers the same amount of heated water at lower operating costs than a standard electric water heater that is a beneficial feature when you are using whole house generator.
  • Product
A.O. Smith GPVL-50 ProMax Power Vent Gas Water Heater, 50 gal

A.O. Smith GPVL-50 ProMax Power Vent Gas Water Heater, 50 gal

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A.O. Smith GPVL-50 ProMax Power Vent Gas Water Heater, 50 gal
PROS:
  • Reduces water waste
  • Dramatically shortens the period for heating water
  • It improves the efficiency of the main water heater
CONS:
  • Costly water heater project
  • It needs a new 110 V or 220 V high amperage circuit
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A.O. Smith ENS-50 ProMax Short Electric Water Heater

AO Smith PXHT-52 Residential Electric Water Heater

A.O. Smith ENS-50 ProMax Short Electric Water Heater, 50 gal Product details

Features:
  • PXHT-52 has 3-inch thick CFC-free foam insulation to trap external heat
  • Blue diamond glass coating and industry-standard glass lining offer superior corrosion resistance
  • Automatic Dyna-Clean II sediment cleaning system
  • 4500 W Phoenix low watt density Incoloy steel
  • Product
A.O. Smith ENS-50 ProMax Short Electric Water Heater, 50 gal

A.O. Smith ENS-50 ProMax Short Electric Water Heater, 50 gal

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A.O. Smith ENS-50 ProMax Short Electric Water Heater, 50 gal
PROS:
  • Low operating cost when installed in warm climates
  • Qualifies for tax incentives and rebates
  • Eliminates frequent cycling from the faucets
CONS:
  • Cost much more compared to other water heaters
  • Regular cleaning of the air filters to maintain working efficiency
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AO Smith (BTR-200) Tank-Type Water Heater With Commercial Natural Gas

AO Smith BTR-200 Tank Type Water Heater with Commercial Natural Gas

AO Smith BTR-200 Tank Type Water Heater with Commercial Natural Gas Product Details

Features:
  • Meets or exceed the standby loss requirements and/or thermal efficiency
  • Electronic Ignition
  • ASME Rated and CSA
  • Vent Size: 6
  • Product
AO Smith BTR-200 Tank Type Water Heater with Commercial Natural Gas

AO Smith BTR-200 Tank Type Water Heater with Commercial Natural Gas

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PROS:
  • Low upfront cost
  • Easy to install
  • No pumps or fans to burn out
CONS:
  • Less efficient; very expensive to operate
  • Must be flushed yearly with special chemicals to maintain energy efficiency and remove scale
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AO Smith (EJCS-20) Residential-Electric Water Heater

AO Smith EJCS-20 Residential Electric Water Heater

AO Smith EJCS-20 Residential Electric Water Heater Product Details

Features:
  • Compact design
  • Electrical connections and side-mounted plumbing
  • Designed for installation through the electrical connections counter and side-mounted plumbing which are easy to access with Walabot.
  • The tank features a durable and tamper-resistant brass drain valve
  • Product
AO Smith EJCS-20 Residential Electric Water Heater

AO Smith EJCS-20 Residential Electric Water Heater

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PROS:
  • Proven reliable even after decades of use
  • Shorter time for heating water
  • It improves the efficiency of the main water heater
CONS:
  • Can be very expensive to run
  • Short tank life; not long-lasting
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AO Smith (GDV-50) Residential Natural-Gas Water Heater

AO Smith GDV-50 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater

AO Smith GDV-50 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater Product Details

Features:
  • FVIR compliant
  • Uses outside air for Combustion
  • DynaClean Dip Tube
  • ASME Rated and CSA Certified tank relief valve
  • Vent Size: 3-6
  • Product
AO Smith GDV-50 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater

AO Smith GDV-50 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater

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AO Smith GDV-50 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater
PROS:
  • Energy efficient
  • Never runs out of hot water
  • Relatively easy to install
CONS:
  • Newer models are expensive and can cost 2 to 3 times more
  • It requires venting reconfiguration and gas line
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AO Smith (GPVT-40) Residential Natural-Gas Water Heater

AO Smith GPVT-40 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater

AO Smith GPVT-40 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater Product Details

Features:
  • Natural Gas
  • Equipped with C3-Technology
  • Versatile power vent design
  • Hot surface ignition
  • Product
AO Smith GPVT-40 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater

AO Smith GPVT-40 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater

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AO Smith GPVT-40 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater
PROS:
  • Enough hot water
  • Lower energy bills
  • Reliable
CONS:
  • High repair cost
  • Can waste a lot of energy if not equipped with the pilot-light
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AO Smith (ENT-50) Pro-Max High Efficiency 50 gal Tall-Electric Water Heater

AO Smith (ENT-50) Pro-Max High Efficiency 50 gal Tall-Electric

A.O. Smith ENT-50 ProMax High Efficiency Tall Electric Water Heater, 50 gal Product Details

Features:
  • PERMAGLAS glass coating maximizes tank life and protects the steel tank from corrosion
  • DynaClean diffuser dip tube made from durable PEX cross-linked polymer helps reduce sediment and lime buildup while increasing hot water output
  • CoreGard aluminum anode rod with a stainless steel core used to protect tank against corrosion for longer compared to ordinary steel anodes
  • Durable and tamper-resistant brass drain valve. Product dimension is 60 inch in height
  • Meets all the current regulations set by the NAECA, National Appliance Energy Conservation Act
  • Product
A.O. Smith ENT-50 ProMax High Efficiency Tall Electric Water Heater, 50 gal

A.O. Smith ENT-50 ProMax High Efficiency Tall Electric Water Heater, 50 gal

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A.O. Smith ENT-50 ProMax High Efficiency Tall Electric Water Heater, 50 gal
PROS:
  • Provides more accurate and reliable performance
  • Good temperature control
  • Fast hot water recovery
CONS:
  • Not enough hot water
  • The heat pump is tall (and wide in some cases) making the unit hard to fit
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A.O. Smith PNS-50 ProMax

A.O. Smith PNS-50 ProMax

A.O. Smith PNS-50 ProMax Product Details

Features:
  • Blue diamond glass coating and industry-standard glass lining offer superior corrosion resistance
  • Self-powered, electronic gas valve utilizes thermopile to produce power required to operate the electronic gas control without using external power
  • Internal microprocessor offers tighter differentials and enhanced operating parameters for faster heating response and precise sensing
  • DynaClean diffuser dip tube made from durable PEX cross-linked polymer helps reduce sediment and lime buildup while increasing hot water output
  • GCG-50 meets all the current regulations set by the NAECA, National Appliance Energy Conservation Act
  • Product
A.O. Smith PNS-50 ProMax Short Electric Water Heater, 50 gal

A.O. Smith PNS-50 ProMax Short Electric Water Heater, 50 gal

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A.O. Smith PNS-50 ProMax Short Electric Water Heater, 50 gal
PROS:
  • Uses less energy
  • Costs less to operate
  • Reliable and efficient to use
CONS:
  • The heat pump is tall (and wide in some cases) making the unit hard to fit
  • High energy costs
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AO Smith (XCVL-40) Residential Natural-Gas Water Heater

Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020

AO Smith GPVT-40 Product Details

Features:
  • DynaClean diffuser dip tube made from durable PEX cross-linked polymer helps reduce sediment and lime buildup while increasing hot water output of XCVL-40
  • Green-choice gas burner patented design decreases nitrogen dioxide emissions
  • Coregard magnesium anode
  • Push-button Piezo igniter
  • Product
AO Smith GPVT-40 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater

AO Smith GPVT-40 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater

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AO Smith GPVT-40 Residential Natural Gas Water Heater
PROS:
CONS:
  • Requires proper location to install
  • More complex hence quite expensive to install this project

Tips on How to Choose the Best AO Smith Water Heater

Majority of the best AO Smith water heaters are exclusively designed with these features:

  • DynaClean system – This self-cleaning system reduces the sediment build-up while increasing the performance of the heater. DynaClean system is also the standard feature for Promax models.
  • Green-Choice gas burners are environment-friendly burners that are designed to reduce nitrogen dioxide emission.
  • CoreGuard anode rod is the aluminum and magnesium rod with a stainless steel core for protecting the tank from any aggressive water action. This feature is used on both Promax and Conservationist series.
  • Blue-Diamond glass coating – Used to protect the inner surface of the water tank from corrosion.
  • Flame arrestor – Made from the fireproof material, Cordierite, which distributes air evenly to gas burner keeping the flame inside the combustion chamber.
  • Permaglas coating – This is a long-lasting and efficient corrosion protection in the water heating industry.

AO Smith water heater machines are specifically designed to heat potable water in various residential applications using all 3 popular fuel sources: solar, electric and gas while utilizing advanced and conventional tankless, tank and hybrid technology.

  • Hybrid Models

Hybrid technology is the latest technology usually used in  AO Smith water heater machines. The technology utilizes both gas and electric heating. NEXT-hybrid gas water heater uses both tank-type and tankless technologies, to ensure maximum transfer of heat for superior performance and high efficient hot water heating. Condensing design allows the NEXT-hybrid heater high 189 gallons cheaper PVC venting and first-hour delivery.

Voltex, the electric heat pump of AO Smith water heater machines is the only electrical unit which is Energy Star approved. Advertised as the green heater, it comes with the heat pump technology and environment-friendly refrigerant that reduces operating costs.

The 60 and 80-gallon models are the two AO Smith water heater machines utilizing this technology. Additionally, they are both high efficient and eligible for tax credits.

  • Condensing Models

Power direct vent and VERTEX power vent are the top AO Smith gas water heaters. Both models have 50-gallon capacity; however, they have different delivery and thermal efficiency. AO Smith Vertex models have a maximum gas input of approximately 76,000 and 100,000 Btu, to deliver a lot of hot water (127 and 164 gallons) for high demanding homes.

Vertex heaters are also equipped with more advanced features like heavy-duty anode rods for low nitrogen dioxide, better rust protection, high efficient gas burner and sophisticated diagnostic tool.

Best AO Smith Water Heater Reviews — Top 10 Models in 2020

  • High Efficient Models

EFFEX is a high efficient AO Smith gas water heater that uses the patented and exclusive pressurized heating chamber for effective heating. Effex water heaters are available in 2 sizes, 40 and 50 gallons that offer high energy factor.

EFFEX models are very sophisticated compared to conventional tank-type heaters because they use the powered anode rod and electronic ignition for better tank protection.

  • Conventional Models

AO Smith water heater machines use propane and natural gas as the source of fuel coming from the 2 popular series ProMax and Conservationist.

Both series utilize the AO Smith advanced and patented features. You can get models for all home sizes, low emissions, energy efficient, high recovery water heaters and economy models. Other than these, you can find the Specialty Vent models that are a reliable solution for any home.

With great advantages like various venting combination and installation flexibility; power direct vent, power vent, vertical venting and horizontal venting, as well as one/two-pipe system.

  • Electric Models

If LP and natural gas aren’t the right fit for your home, electric water heaters might be. The two series featuring electric models include wider ProMax series and smaller Conservationist series.

AO Smith water heater models belonging to the Conservationist series are specifically designed as highly efficient units with similar quality features like the gas-powered models. These are usually built for water supply in the whole house, while Promax also provides point-of-use and specialty designed models.

  • Tankless Models

AO Smith water heater models that feature the tankless technology can also be the right option for you, if you are looking for gas heaters that produce lots of hot water on every demand and with the continuous flow too.

AO Smith tankless tank units for home water heating are wall-hanging and small and are Energy star approved, thanks to its highly efficient operation. AO Smith water heater models from tankless series are specifically designed for outdoor and indoor installation and based on power and water flow can supply lots of hot water from small homes to large houses with many bathrooms.

In addition, AO Smith water heater models also have the answer for those searching for more ultra-efficient and power models. These condensing and non-condensing water heating units are eligible for tax credits by the government.

Sources:

ConsumerReports.org

Amazon.com

Ebay.com

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